Central Park Five

Announcer: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT WHICH MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES.

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

[DISTANT SIRENS] CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI Matias Reyes: I SHOWED THEM THE TOP OF THE ENTRANCE, THE DIRECTION SHE CAME BY.

I SHOWED THEM WHERE SHE MADE THE TURN.

I SHOWED THEM WHERE I PICKED UP THE TREE BRANCH AND DOWN THE ROAD WHERE I STRUCK HER OVER THE HEAD WITH A TREE BRANCH AND WHERE I DRAGGED HER IN.

SHE JUST KEPT MOANING, YOU KNOW, SAYING STOP, AND GRABBING HER HEAD.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SHE WAS IN PAIN AND ALL THAT, YOU KNOW.

SHE WAS BLEEDING.

I CANT EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I LEFT THERE, THAT PARK THAT NIGHT.

BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THESE KIDS SAW THIS WOMAN COME IN OR HAVE A IDEA OF WHERE SHE WAS COMING FROM.

IM THE ONE THAT DID THIS.

Man: READY?

Second man: YEAH.

APPROXIMATELY 1: 30 THIS MORNING, AH, TWO MALES WALKING THROUGH CENTRAL PARK NORTH OF THE 102nd STREET JOGGING PATH FOUND A FEMALE.

SHE WAS STILL ALIVE, AND IN FACT STILL IS ALIVE.

THE FEMALE WAS CLAD ONLY IN A BRA.

SHE WAS LYING EXPOSED IN THE AREA, APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

HER BODY TEMPERATURE WAS DOWN VERY LOW.

AROUND HER MOUTH THERES AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING THAT WAS WRAPPED AROUND HER FACE, AND THE SAME ARTICLE WAS USED TO BIND HER WRISTS TO HER FACE.

SHE HAD BEEN STRUCK AROUND THE HEAD REPEATEDLY, MUD ON HER BODY.

SHE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DRAGGED THROUGH THE WOODS, NORTH INTO THE, AH, SHRUB AREA.

SHE WAS TAKEN TO METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL WHERE SHE IS CLASSIFIED AS, AH, IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

Man: I LOOK BACK AT THE JOGGER CASE AND WISH I HAD BEEN MORE SKEPTICAL AS A JOURNALIST.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDNT DO THEIR JOBS-- REPORTERS, POLICE, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE LAWYERS.

THIS WAS A PROXY WAR BEING FOUGHT.

AND THESE YOUNG MEN WERE THE PROXIES FOR ALL KINDS OF OTHER AGENDAS.

AND THE TRUTH AND THE REALITY AND JUSTICE WERE NOT PART OF IT.

Man: YOU GIVE US 22 MINUTES...

Different man: FIGHT BACK...

THE BULLS ARE GALLOPING... Man: DO YOU HAVE A PASSPORT, MR. GOTTI?

GIVEN THE ALARMING SPREAD OF AIDS, NEW YORK... Man: FIGHT BACK...

IF YOU DONT LIKE IT, YOURE FIRED.

Tom Brokaw: A SAVAGE RACIAL ATTACK... Man: IN THE MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD OF HOWARD BEACH... A MOB OF WHITES ATTACKED 3 BLACK MEN... Peter Jennings: THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CALLED IT A RACIAL LYNCHING.

Man: YO, OFF WITH THE CAMERA, MAN.

NEW YORK, UNDER-POLICED CITY WITH CRIME OUT OF CONTROL.

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ISNT WORKING.

THEY CALL HIM THE SUBWAY VIGILANTE.

Dan Rather: GOETZ BENT OVER ONE OF HIS WOUNDED VICTIMS AND SAID, "YOU DONT LOOK TOO BAD.

HERES ANOTHER"...

IF I HAD MORE BULLETS, I WOULD HAVE SHOT THEM ALL AGAIN AND AGAIN.

ITS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE STOOD UP FOR HIMSELF.

Man: 25-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL STEWART... Man: 16-YEAR-OLD YUSEF HAWKINS... WHERE 67-YEAR-OLD ELEANOR BUMPERS LIVED UNTIL POLICE CAME TO EVICT HER AND ENDED UP KILLING HER.

NEW YORK IS NOW THE CAPITAL OF RACIAL VIOLENCE.

I AM.

People: I AM!

SOMEBODY.

SOMEBODY!

YOU WANT TO USE THE GUN, WELL USE THE GUN.

NONE OF US IS SAFE.

EVEN IF YOU LOCK YOURSELF BEHIND DOORS... Man: THERES NOW A NEW LEVEL OF RANDOM VIOLENCE IN THIS CITY.

Man: ITS INTOLERABLE AND THIS CITY WILL RISE UP IN ITS WRATH AGAINST THOSE WHO PERPETRATE MONSTROSITIES.

Antron McCray: HARLEM.

1989.

MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ITS A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, ALL THE KIDS WOULD SAY IT WAS THE SUBURBS OF HARLEM.

IT WAS LIKE 3 DIFFERENT PROJECTS AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

RAYMOND SANTANA, KEVIN RICHARDSON, KOREY WISE, YUSEF SALAAM, I DIDNT KNOW THEM, BUT I SEEN THEM AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

Man: I LIVED IN THE BRONX AT ONE TIME, AND THE BRONX IS MORE QUIET LIFE.

YOU KNOW, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE PROJECTS.

IT WAS VERY SECLUDED, EVERYBODY KNEW EACH OTHER.

WHEN I MOVED TO HARLEM, HARLEM WAS VERY FAST-PACED.

EVERYTHING MOVED FAST.

THE CARS MOVED FAST; THE PEOPLE; THE, THE LINGO.

IT WAS A BIG CULTURE SHOCK.

McCray: I WAS THE ONLY CHILD.

AND ME AND MY MOTHER, WE WAS CLOSE, BUT MY FATHER WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

I THOUGHT HE WAS LIKE A SUPERHERO.

HE COACHED ALL OF MY LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS.

HE WAS A GREAT TEACHER.

I PLAYED SHORTSTOP, I PLAYED PITCHER.

IN LITTLE LEAGUE, YOU GET TO PLAY EVERYTHING-- OUTFIELD, CATCHER.

BUT MY FAVORITE POSITION WAS SHORTSTOP.

Santana, Jr.: MY DAD IS FROM PUERTO RICO.

MY MOTHERS A MIX OF PUERTO RICAN AND BLACK.

SO, MY DAD IS, LIKE, LIGHT-SKINNED PUERTO RICANS.

AND MY MOTHERS SIDE WAS MORE, LIKE, DARK SKIN.

YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE, LIKE, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

Man: I USED TO RIDE SKATEBOARDS.

I USED TO PLAY THINGS LIKE HIDE AND GO SEEK AND, YOU KNOW, USED TO RUN AROUND WITH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Man: AS A KID, I KNEW YUSEF AND I MUST SAY HE WAS A GOOD KID.

AH, HE HAD, AH...HIM AND HIS FAMILY AH, HAD JUST MOVED INTO THE SCHOMBURG COMPLEX.

Man: KOREY AND YUSEF, WE GREW UP IN THE SAME BUILDIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IVE SEEN EM AROUND AND OUR PARENTS KNEW EACH OTHER FROM JUST DAY-TO-DAY.

Salaam: IT WAS MY MOTHER, MY SISTER, AND MY BROTHER.

AND MY MOTHER WAS A SINGLE PARENT, TEACHING AT PARSONS UNIVERSITY.

SHE ENCOURAGED ALL OF US TO DO GOOD WORK, GOOD QUALITY WORK.

WHATEVER WE DID.

Wise: WHEN I WAS A KID, HAD A LITTLE HEARIN, LITTLE HEARIN PROBLEM.

BUT I JUST FOUND MYSELF JUST IGNORIN IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT AFFECTED MY LIFE.

I GREW UP WITH A BIG FAMILY.

A LOT OF WOMEN IN MY FAMILY.

MY MOTHER PLUS 4 SISTERS.

Woman: HES THE BABY AND HE WAS TREATED AS SUCH.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAMAS ONLY BOY OUT OF 5 CHILDREN AND THE BABY.

SO HE WAS JUST OUR HEARTS, LIKE, JOY, EVERYBODYS.

Santana, Jr.: AT THAT TIME I WAS JUST GETTING INTO MUSIC.

WATCHING VIDEOS.

"MTV RAPS" WAS KINDA BIG, SO, WE, WE WATCHED THAT.

WE WOULD RECORD THE VIDEOS AND WE WOULD WATCH EM OVER AND OVER AND OVER ALL DAY, YOU KNOW.

MY DAD WOULD COME IN THE HOUSE, SAY, "ARE YOU STILL WATCHING THAT VIDEO FROM WHEN I LEFT?"

YOU KNOW, THATS HOW FAR MY RANGE WAS.

I THINK THAT I WAS AT THAT POINT OF COMING INTO WHO I WAS, YOU KNOW, BUT I NEVER REALLY F--I NEVER REALLY GOT THERE.

NEW YORK IN THE LATE 1980s WAS A COMPLETELY SCHIZOPHRENIC, DIVIDED CITY.

THERE WAS ENORMOUS WEALTH GUSHING INTO THE CITY OUT OF THE RISE OF THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRIES, WHICH HAD SURGED BEGINNING AROUND 1980.

SO, THE CITY THAT HAD BEEN IN A BIG COLLAPSE FOR SEVERAL DECADES HAD TURNED AROUND.

BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE SIDE TO THE CITY IN WHICH DRUG GANGSTERS AND CRACK AND A KIND OF HARD, PERMANENTLY LOCKED UNDERCLASS WAS IN PLACE.

AND THERE WAS ENORMOUS SUFFERING.

IT WAS AS IF THERE WAS A SOCIAL MOAT THAT DIVIDED THESE TWO NEW YORKS.

THE CITY, WHEN I CAME IN, UH, WAS ON THE EDGE OF, UH, BANKRUPTCY, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WOULD NOT, UH, RECOVER.

WE WERE A CITY COMING OUT OF A SERIES OF CRISES AND AN ENORMOUS ECONOMIC CRISIS.

A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WAS IN COLLAPSE; POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS THAT SEEMED TO BE FAILING THE PEOPLE AND NOT MEETING THEIR NEEDS; OLD, FASHIONABLE, BEAUTIFUL, NOBLE NEIGHBORHOODS FALLING APART.

Koch: AND, OF COURSE, OVERRIDING WAS CRIME.

SEVERAL THINGS HAPPENED TO ME THAT I JUST CONSIDERED NORMAL PART OF LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY.

A COUPLE OF MUGGINGS AND NEAR MUGGINGS AND I DIDNT EVEN REPORT ANY OF THESE THINGS.

JUST KIND OF FIGURED ITS THE WAY IT IS.

PEOPLE HAD IT WORKED OUT IN THEIR HEADS THAT THEIR BLOCK WAS SAFE, THE STREETS THEY WALKED TO GET TO THE SUBWAY TO GO TO WORK, THEY WERE OK. THEIR SUBWAY LINE, THEY GOT ON THE SAME SPOT ON THE TRAIN EVERY DAY.

THAT WAS OK.

THEY HAD FIGURED OUT A SAFE PATH THROUGH THIS, AH... YOU KNOW, GARDEN OF TERRORS.

Koch: AND THEN IN ABOUT 84, CRACK CAME TO NEW YORK CITY AND THAT INCREASED CRIME.

NO QUESTION, UH, ABOUT IT.

Wilder: WHEN THE CRACK WARS HAPPEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN TEENAGERS HAVE LOTS OF CASH AND GUNS.

AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN HARLEM, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN BROWNSVILLE, EAST NEW YORK.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AFRAID.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IRRATIONAL NOT TO BE AFRAID.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED MOST WITH THE RISE OF CRIMINALITY, GANG WARS, DRUG WARS, WERE ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE WE BLAMED.

MOST OF THE HOMICIDES WERE YOUNG, POOR, WORKING CLASS BLACK AND BROWN KIDS.

AND THE DOMINANT SOCIAL MESSAGE WAS NO ONE CARED IF YOU LIVED OR DIED.

AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED, IN THE LATE EIGHTIES IN NEW YORK CITY, THE BLACK COMMUNITY WAS UNDER ASSAULT.

"THE MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES IN AMERICA," THAT WAS A POPULAR PHRASE, WAS THE YOUNG BLACK MAN.

Richardson: IT WAS A NICE NIGHT.

WE WAS JUST, UM, JUST HANGING OUT OUTSIDE, PLAYING BASKETBALL WHERE I LIVED AT IN SCHOMBURG.

Santana, Jr.: IT WAS A HOLIDAY COMING UP.

WE DIDNT HAVE SCHOOL.

A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WANTED TO GO HANG OUT.

I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, AH, "TOO MUCH TROUBLE IN THE CORNER.

UM, GO TO THE PARK."

I SENT HIM TO THAT PARK THAT NIGHT.

SO, I FEEL GUILT, TOO.

Wise: I WAS COMIN FROM A RESTAURANT ON THE CORNER OF 110th STREET.

WE WALKED OVER TO 110th STREET.

ALMOST IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE TO SCHOMBURG PLAZA.

COMIN FROM 110th AND MADISON, THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE.

I SEE THIS MOB TURNING THE CORNER.

Wise: GOOD KIDS AND BAD KIDS.

KIDS JUST OUT TO HAVE SOME FUN.

McCray: SOME OF THEM I DIDNT KNOW BY FACE; SOME OF THEM WENT TO MY SCHOOL; SOME OF THEM LIVED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

YUSEF CAME MY WAY.

I SEE KOREY.

I SAID, "HEY, COME AND HANG OUT.

WERE ABOUT TO HANG OUT IN THE PARK."

A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINES, HE STAYED BACK.

WE WAS ALL PLAYING BASKETBALL AND HE WAS LIKE, "DONT GO.

LIKE, STAY HERE."

NEXT THING I KNOW, WE WAS GOING INTO THE PARK.

Wise: WALK IN, A FEW OF THE GUYS HORSE PLAYIN WITH EACH OTHER.

JUMPIN ON EACH OTHERS BACK, BEATIN EACH OTHER UP.

JUST HORSE PLAYIN.

WE START GOING TOWARDS THE MAIN ROAD.

AND PEOPLE STARTED THROWING ROCKS AT THE CARS.

A COUPLE, THEY WAS ON A TANDEM BIKE.

AND SOME KIDS IS HARASSING EM OR SAYIN SOMETHING TO THEM.

LOOKED LIKE THEY WAS TRYING TO PULL EM OFF AND THE BICYCLISTS KEPT THEY, HELD THEIR BALANCE AND THEY JUST KEPT GOIN.

A HOMELESS PERSON STARTS WALKING ACROSS THE STREET AND THE GUYS SURROUND HIM.

McCray: HE HAD SOME FOOD.

SOME OF THE GUYS OUT OF THE GROUP TOOK HIS FOOD, BEAT HIM UP.

Salaam: THEY WERE BEATING THIS GUY UP REALLY BADLY, AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME SOMEONE POURED OUT A BEER BOTTLE, AND THEN SMASHED HIM IN THE HEAD WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS KINDA UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE THAT AND, AND TO SEE, LIKE, THIS GUY GETTING, YOU KNOW, JUMPED ON BY ALL THESE TEENAGERS.

McCray: I REMEMBER POLICE COMING, EVERYBODY SPLIT UP.

Santana, Jr.: THEY SHINED A LIGHT AND THE GROUP KIND OF DISPERSED.

EVERYBODY RAN.

THATS WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO HOME.

I LEFT THE PARK WHEN EVERYBODY SCATTERED.

Santana, Jr.: WE WAS GONNA LEAVE BUT SOMEBODY SAID, "WELL, LETS GO FIND THE REST OF THE GUYS "AND WELL BREAK OUT.

WELL GO HOME."

AND THATS WHAT WE DID.

Salaam: WE CROSSED DOWN ONTO THE 96th STREET TRAVERSE AND CLIMBED UP THE ROCKS TO THE OTHER SIDE.

WE WAS BY A RESERVOIR.

I REMEMBER A MAN RUNNING BY AND SOME KIDS THAT ARE THROWING ROCKS AT HIM.

AND HE KEPT RUNNING.

ANOTHER PERSON CAME RUNNING BY.

AND WHEN HE GOT IN THE MIDDLE, THEY KIND OF CAME OUT AND THEY JUMPED ON HIM.

WE WAS WATCHING FROM A DISTANCE.

I DIDNT TAKE PART IN THAT.

AND IM LIKE, WOW, THIS GUY JUST PICKED HIM UP AND THREW HIM INTO THE GATE.

THEN HE JUST STARTS PUNCHING HIM AND BEATING HIM.

AND THEN SOMEBODY YELLED, "POLICE."

Richardson: COMMOTION.

SOME KIDS, LIKE, RUNNING THAT WAY, AND SOME KIDS GOING THE OTHER WAY.

TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY OUTSIDE, OUT OF THE PARK.

McCray: I THINK IT WAS BETWEEN, LIKE, 9:00 AND 10:00.

I WAS LEAVING THE PARK AROUND THAT TIME, BECAUSE I HAD A CURFEW.

Salaam: I REMEMBER WALKING WITH THIS SMALL GROUP TO THE 1, 2, AND THE 3 TRAIN ON BROADWAY.

THE ONLY CRIME I COMMITTED THAT NIGHT WAS I HOPPED THE TURNSTILE.

Santana, Jr.: ON CENTRAL PARK WEST, A CAR PULLED UP IN FRONT OF ME AND TWO OFFICERS JUMPED OUT.

AND ONE GRABBED ME.

AND, UM...AND, AND WHEN I TURNED BACK, THE CROWD SCATTERED AND EVERYBODY RAN.

POLICE WAS CHASING ME AND I HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO, SO, THERE WAS A WALL AND YOU JUMP OVER THE WALL, YOU GO BACK INTO THE PARK.

THEY HANDCUFFED US AND PUT IN THE CAR.

AND THEN HIS PARTNER RAN AND HE JUMPED OVER THE WALL INTO THE PARK AND HE TOOK OFF.

Richardson: SOMEBODY TOLD ME TO, "FREEZE OR I WILL SHOOT."

MY FEAR EVEN WENT UP MORE SO I JUST KEPT RUNNIN.

ONE OF THE COPS, HE TACKLED ME.

ALL MY CLOTHES WAS JUST ALL DIRTY AND MUDDY.

AND HE HAD A HELMET, AND HE SWUNG IT ACROSS MY FACE.

AND HE HANDCUFFED ME AND I SAID, UM...

I THINKS HE SAID, UM, LIKE, "WHATS GOIN ON?"

[SNIFFLES] AND HE SAID, HE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "DIDNT I TELL YOU NOT TO RUN?"

LIKE, YOU, ITS LIKE "YOU LITTLE, LITTLE ANIMAL" OR SOMETHING [SNIFFLES].

SO, UM, I BASICALLY SAID, "OH, I DIDNT DO NOTHIN, YOU KNOW."

AND WE SAT IN THE POLICE CARS FOR A WHILE.

THEY ROUNDED UP A FEW PEOPLE AND WE PROCEEDED TO THE PRECINCT.

Santana, Jr.: THEY BRUNG US IN.

THEY TOOK SHOTS, AH...PHOTOS OF US AND THEN THEY PUT US IN A ROOM.

Richardson: 14.

NEVER GOT ARRESTED.

NEVER HAD HANDCUFFS ON ME.

SCARED TO DEATH.

I COULD RECALL ONE COP LOOKIN AT ME.

AND HE SAYS, "WHATS THAT ON YOUR FACE?"

AND HA, I, I SAID, UM, "ONE OF YOUR ONE, OF YOUR, YOUR FELLOW WORKERS HIT ME."

AND HE SAID, "ONE OF MY, MY FELLOW WORKERS?

WHERE AT?

COME POINT HIM OUT TO ME."

YOU KNOW, LIKE I WAS LYING.

THEY ASKED ME WHAT WAS GOING ON NEXT, AND THE GUYS ARE SAYIN, "WELL GIVE YOU A TICKET FOR FAMILY COURT AND YOULL, YOULL BE RIGHT OUTTA HERE IN NO, IN NO TIME SOON."

WE WERE SITTING THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

Richardson: IT TOOK A WHILE BUT THEY BEGIN TO CALL PARENTS.

Black: MY MOTHER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE PRECINCT AND THEY TOLD HER TO COME PICK UP KEVIN UP FROM, UM, IT WAS THE CENTRAL PARK PRECINCT AND THAT HE HAD BEEN PICKED UP FOR, I BELIEVE IT WAS UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.

3 POLICEMEN KNOCK ON MY DOOR AND SAY, "OH, YOU AINT KNOW YOUR SON WAS IN THE POLICE STATION?"

I SAID, "NO."

AND THEY TELL ME, "COME ON, LETS GO."

I HAD TO GET DRESSED.

AND THEN MY MOTHER WAS THERE, AND SHE GOT SCARED.

AND SHE SAID, "I GOING WITH YOU."

SO, SHE WENT WITH ME.

I STARTED SEEING A LOT OF PARENTS.

WE FEELIN A LITTLE BETTER, YOU KNOW, THINKIN THAT WE, THAT WE GONNA BE OK. Woman: THE JOGGER WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT 1:30 IN THE MORNING BY PASSERSBY.

SHE WAS IN THE UNDERBRUSH IN THE NORTHERN REACHES OF THE PARK AND SHE WAS TAKEN TO METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL.

Dwyer: HER SKULL WAS FRACTURED.

SHE LOST A GOOD DEAL OF HER BODY FLUIDS.

SHE WAS VIRTUALLY DEAD.

THE KIDS WERE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED WHEN A DETECTIVE WHO REALIZED THE GRAVITY OF THE INJURIES OF THE VICTIM CALLED THE PRECINCT AND SAID, "HOLD ON TO THOSE GUYS."

AND IT WAS FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD THAT EVERYTHING PLOWED TOWARDS THEM.

Black: THE NEXT TIME I HEARD FROM MY MOTHER, SHE WOKE ME UP.

AND, AH, SHE SAYS, "IM STILL HERE AT THE PRECINCT."

AND I SAYS, "WELL, WHY ARE YOU STILL THERE?"

AND SHE SAID, UM, "WELL, THEY SAYIN THEY WAITIN FOR PAPERWORK."

I WAS WONDERING WHATS WRONG.

AND I TOLD EM IF I COULD SEE MY SON BECAUSE I SAW HIM NEXT DOOR IN THE ROOM WITH ALL THE KIDS.

AND THEY SAID, "NO, YOU GOTTA WAIT TILL MORNING."

SO I TELL MY MOTHER, "STAY WITH HIM AND LET ME TO GO TO WORK."

THEY PROBABLY GONNA RELEASE HIM IN THE MORNING ANYWAY.

I DONT SEE NOTHIN WRONG AND I WENT TO WORK.

Dwyer: INITIALLY, THE CASE WAS GOING TO BE HANDLED BY THE CENTRAL PARK PRECINCT.

BUT SHE WAS THOUGHT TO BE NEAR DEATH, AND HOMICIDE CASES ARE HANDLED TYPICALLY BY THESE HOMICIDE SQUADS.

AND MANHATTAN NORTH WAS A PRESTIGIOUS BUNCH OF DETECTIVES WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN THEIR WORK AND SWAGGER IN THEIR STEP.

TWO PROSECUTORS, LINDA FAIRSTEIN AND ELIZABETH LEDERER.

THEY WERE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION.

AND THEY WERE OPERATING NOT ONLY AS PROSECUTORS BUT INVESTIGATORS.

Byfield: I WAS GETTING READY FOR WORK AND I HEARD THE NEWS.

AND INSTANTLY YOUR MIND GOES INTO THE CALCULUS.

AN UNIDENTIFIED WHITE WOMAN FOUND RAPED IN NORTHERN CENTRAL PARK.

OH.

I THINK VIRTUALLY EVERY ETHNIC AND RACIAL GROUP IN NEW YORK HAS THESE MOMENTS WHERE YOU, YOUR, YOUR HEART JUST SORT OF STOPS AND YOUR STOMACH TURNS AND YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, OH, PLEASE DONT LET IT BE US.

Man: ...POLICE HAVE 5 TEENAGERS IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW... Richardson: FIRST WE WAS ALL TOGETHER.

THEN THEY STARTED TO PUT US IN DIFFERENT ROOMS SEPARATELY.

DIFFERENT COPS COMING BACK AND FORTH.

AND ONE COP SAYIN, "WELL, WE JUST HEARD THAT A WOMAN WAS RAPED AND BEATEN IN THE PARK."

NOW HE SAYS, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LADY?"

AND IM SAYING, "WHAT LADY? "

AND HE SAYS, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT LADY?

THE LADY WHO GOT RAPED IN THE PARK."

I SAY, "YEAH, I WAS IN THE PARK.

"AND I WAS, YEAH, I WAS, YOU KNOW, ALL AROUND.

BUT THAT I DONT KNOW ABOUT."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DONT KNOW?

YOU JUST..." AND I SAID, "NO.

NEVER CAME ACROSS NO LADY."

SO NOW WE GOING BACK THROUGH THE STATEMENT FROM THE TOP, AGAIN.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"WHO WERE YOU WITH?"

"WHO DID YOU COME WITH?"

AND, UM, SAME ANSWERS AGAIN.

THEY GETTIN A LITTLE ANGRY CAUSE I GUESS THEY NOT GETTIN A WORD OUTTA ANYBODY.

Dwyer: THE DETECTIVES ARE TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER A NARRATIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED AND THEYRE TRYING TO MAKE IT FIT WHAT THEY KNOW HAPPENED: A WOMAN ENDED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF A RAVINE IN THE PARK ALMOST DEAD AND A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE GOT HASSLED OR HURT IN SOME WAY BY THESE KIDS.

SO, THEYRE TRYING TO MAKE THE STORY CLIMB SOME SORT OF LADDER OF FACTS.

ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE IN CENTRAL PARK THAT NIGHT.

AND THERE ARE GANGS OF KIDS RUNNING AROUND MAKING MISCHIEF.

ITS NOT SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE KIDS WERE BROUGHT IN, WHY THEY WERE INTERROGATED SO AGGRESSIVELY, WHY POLICE BELIEVED THEY HAD AMONGST THEM THE CULPRIT OR CULPRITS.

NOW THEY JUST HAVE TO GET THE PROOF OF IT.

Santana, Jr.: ANOTHER DETECTIVE CAME INTO THE ROOM, HE CALLED MY GRANDMOTHER.

AND HE SAID, "LISTEN, CAN I TALK TO YOU OUTSIDE FOR A MINUTE?"

AND WHEN HE TOOK HER OUTSIDE, THATS WHEN IT STARTED.

HE LOOKS AT ME.

HES LIKE, "OH, THIS IS THE SCUMBAG RIGHT HERE THAT DID IT."

Richardson: I REMEMBER ONE GUY SPECIFICALLY TELL ME, "YOU WANT TO SPEND 25 TO LIFE ON RIKERS ISLAND?

YOU WANT TO GO TO JAIL FOR RAPE?

CAUSE THEY DONT LIKE GUYS THAT RAPE WOMEN," AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, AND IM SAYING, LIKE, IM, IM, IM TELLIN THE GUY, "I DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE TALKIN ABOUT."

Santana, Jr.: NOW THE OTHER OFFICER COMES IN.

HE HAD ABOUT RED HAIR, A SHORT GUY.

AND HE WAS LIKE, "OH, SO THIS IS THE ...

RIGHT HERE."

AND ARROYO SAYS, "YEAH, THIS IS THE GUY HERE.

HE DOESNT WANT TO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED."

AND IM SITTIN THERE LIKE, "AH, WHATS GOING ON?"

AND NOW ARROYO STARTS TO YELL AT ME AND THEN THIS GUY PULLS UP A CHAIR NEXT TO ME.

HE STARTS TO YELL RIGHT IN MY EAR.

SO I HAVE ARROYO HERE YELLIN AT ME, BLOWING SMOKE IN MY FACE WITH THE CIGARETTE, AND THEN I HAVE THIS GUY ON MY SIDE AND HES YELLIN AT ME.

AND THEYRE LIKE, "YOU KNOW YOU ... DID IT.

YOU ...

STUCK YOUR ...

IN HER, RIGHT?

DIDNT YOU?"

AND IM LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN ABOUT?

I DIDNT STICK NOTHIN IN NOBODY."

AND I START TO CRY A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN HARTIGAN JUMPS IN.

AND I WAS GRATEFUL, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT I WAS GRATEFUL CAUSE HARTIGAN STOPPED HIM FROM TRYING TO HURT ME.

THEN AGAIN, THE OTHER GUY COME BACK IN SCREAMIN AND YELLIN, VIOLATING MY PERSONAL SPACE, SO CLOSE TO SPITTIN ON ME.

AND THEN MY MOTHER, SHE CAME TO THE DOOR, AND SHE SAID, "I NEED TO SEE MY SON.

I NEED TO SEE MY SON."

I LOOKED OUT WHEN I SEEN ONE OF THE DETECTIVES, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE HER BY THE SHOULDER, PUT HER BACK TO HER CHAIR.

AND WHILE HES TALKING TO HER, THEY CLOSE THE DOOR AND THEY QUESTIONING ME.

THEY KNEW THAT MY MOTHER WAS, WAS A WEAK PERSON, WAS DISABLED.

AND THEY, THEY USED THAT, YOU KNOW.

THEY USED THAT.

THE OFFICERS, THEY ACTUALLY MET ME OUTSIDE.

THEY WERE LIKE, "OH, YOUR MOTHERS, YOU KNOW, "SHES NOT WELL AND SINCE YOURE, YOU KNOW, OF AGE, "YOU CAN STAY AND REPLACE YOUR MOTHER AND WELL SEND HER ON HOME IN A SQUAD CAR, AND WELL MAKE SURE SHES OK." AND THEY SAID, "SHE WAS COOPERATING WITH THIS PROCESS.

SO WE SURE THAT YOURE GONNA COOPERATE AS WELL."

SO THAT, IN THEY CONSTANTLY KEPT SAYING, "SO THAT YOUR BROTHER CAN GO HOME.

SO THAT YOUR BROTHER COULD GO HOME.

SO THAT..." AND THATS ALL I WANTED.

I JUST WANTED TO GET HIM BACK HOME.

McCray: THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

IT WAS 3 OR 4 DETECTIVES.

I THOUGHT THEY WAS THERE BECAUSE OF THE ASSAULTS ON THE PEOPLE IN CENTRAL PARK.

MY FATHER, HE LET THEM COME IN.

THESE MEN, THEY LOOKED LIKE GIANTS, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO MY FATHER.

HE ASKED ME TO PUT SOME SNEAKERS ON.

HE TOLD MY FATHER HE WAS GOING TO TAKE ME DOWN TO THE PRECINCT.

MY FATHER CALLED MY MOTHER, AND MY MOTHER MET US AT THE PRECINCT.

THEY WAS ASKING ME QUESTIONS A FEMALE JOGGER IN CENTRAL PARK.

AND I WAS LIKE, "THERE WAS ONLY ONE WOMAN, "AND SHE WAS WITH A MAN ON A BIKE.

BUT THEY ROLLED OFF."

AND HE WAS LIKE, "YOU SURE?"

I WAS LIKE, "YEAH."

"WHAT ABOUT THE LADY THAT GOT RAPED?"

IM LIKE, "WHAT LADY THAT GOT RAPED?"

THEY JUST KEPT ASKING ME ABOUT THIS LADY THAT GOT RAPED.

AND I KEPT TELLING THEM, "THERE WAS ONLY ONE LADY."

THEY ASKED MY MOTHER TO LEAVE THE ROOM.

IM LOOKING AT MY FATHER AND HES LIKE, "ARE YOU TELLING THE TRUTH?"

I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, DAD, IM TELLING THE TRUTH.

I SWEAR IM TELLING THE TRUTH."

I ALWAYS TOLD MY FATHER THE TRUTH.

"I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT NO JOGGER.

"I KNOW SOME PEOPLE GOT BEATEN UP, BUT I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT."

THEN THEY ASKED ME TO TELL MY STORY AGAIN.

THIS TIME YELLING AT ME.

ALL UP IN MY FACE, POINTING AT ME, POKING ME IN MY CHEST.

IT JUST KEPT GOING ON AND ON AND ON.

WE STOPPED A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I WAS CRYING.

AND I HAD NO PROTECTION.

MY FATHER DIDNT DO ANYTHING.

I WAS SCARED.

Santana, Jr.: HOURS HAVE PASSED.

Richardson: TIME KEPT GOING BY.

McCray: THEY KEPT ASKING QUESTIONS.

Santana, Jr.: NO FOOD, NO DRINK.

McCray: I DIDNT EAT.

I DIDNT GET NO SLEEP.

Santana, Jr.: AND I DIDNT KNOW WHEN IT WAS GONNA END.

Kassin: CONFRONTATION FOLLOWED BY DENIAL, FOLLOWED BY "YOURE A LIAR, I WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH" CAN GO ON FOR HOURS.

AND THE, THE GOAL THERE IS TO BREAK THE SUSPECT DOWN INTO A STATE OF DESPAIR, INTO A STATE OF HELPLESSNESS, SO THAT THE SUSPECT GETS WORN DOWN AND IS LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT.

McCray: THEY PULLED MY FATHER ASIDE.

THEN MY FATHER CAME BACK IN THE ROOM, IT WAS LIKE HE JUST CHANGED.

HE JUST CHANGED.

HE WAS LIKE, "LISTEN."

HE WAS LIKE, "TELL THESE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR SO YOU CAN GO HOME."

IF HE JUST WOULDVE STOOD HIS GROUND, I WOULDVE TOLD THE TRUTH.

I WOULDVE STUCK TO THE TRUTH.

Santana, Jr.: HARTIGAN SAT DOWN AND HE SAID, "LOOK, RAY.

I KNOW YOU DIDNT DO ANYTHING WRONG.

"BUT THE OTHER GUYS RIGHT NOW, THEYRE IN OTHER PRECINCTS AND THEYRE SAYING THAT YOU DID IT."

AND THEY TELLIN ME, "WELL, YOURE NOT SAYIN NOTHIN BUT THESE GUYS PUT YOUR NAME IN IT."

AND IM LIKE, "I DIDNT DO ANYTHING."

AND HES LIKE, "WELL, THIS IS WHY IM HERE TO HELP BECAUSE "I KNOW YOU DIDNT DO ANYTHING.

YOURE A GOOD KID.

YOU KNOW, THIS ISNT YOU."

HE PULLS OUT THIS PICTURE OF KEVIN RICHARDSON.

AND HE GOES, "YOU KNOW THIS KID?"

AND IM LIKE, "NO, I DONT KNOW HIM."

AND HE GOES, "YOU SEE THE SCRATCH UNDER HIS EYE?

"THAT CAME FROM THE WOMAN.

WE KNOW HE DID IT.

HES GOING DOWN."

AT THIS POINT IM LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, I DONT KNOW THESE, THESE GUYS THATS, THATS THERE SO IM JUST GONNA MAKE UP SOMETHIN AND, AND, INCLUDE THESE GUYS NAMES.

OK.

IF, IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOURE GOING TO DO IT TO ME, THEN IM GOING TO DO IT TO YOU.

THEY WAS COACHING ME AND I WAS WRITING IT DOWN.

Santana, Jr.: HE JUST FED IT TO ME.

"WELL, WHAT DID HE DO?

WHAT DID ANTRON McCRAY DO?"

HE GAVE ME THE NAMES.

I PUT EM IN.

I COULDNT TELL YOU WHO THEY WERE, WHO THEY LOOKED LIKE.

IF HE WOULDA GAVE ME A HUNDRED NAMES, I WOULDA PUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE AT THE CRIME SCENE.

McCray: AND I WAS LIKE, "HOW CAN THEY LIE?"

SO I WAS LIKE, "IM GOING TO GET HIM BACK."

AT THAT POINT, I TOLD MYSELF I JUST, I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

I THOUGHT I HAD THE UPPER HAND BECAUSE HERE I WAS, I HAD A DETECTIVE WHO WAS SAYING, "ILL MAKE SURE YOU GO HOME."

McCray: I WAS THINKING THAT I WASNT NEVER GOING TO GO HOME.

I GAVE THESE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR.

YOU KNOW, I LIED.

I LIED.

I SAY, "WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE IT HAPPENED AT THE RESERVOIR."

YOU KNOW, IM PLACING THE SCENE OF THE CRIME AT THE RESERVOIR.

AND, AND HE JUST, HE DOESNT REALLY SAY BUT HE GIVES ME THIS LOOK LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

McCray: HE ASKED ME WHAT SHE WAS WEARING.

I DIDNT KNOW BECAUSE I WASNT THERE.

SO I REMEMBER ONE OF THE MEN JOGGERS THAT GOT ASSAULTED, HE HAD BLUE SHORTS AND A WHITE SHIRT.

THATS WHAT I SAID SHE HAD ON.

AND THEN HE SAID, "ITS GOTTA BE MORE BELIEVABLE.

"YOU KNOW, RAY, PEOPLE DONT FULLY BELIEVE IT IF YOU JUST SAW IT."

HE SAID, "WHERE WERE YOU?"

AND I SAID, "I SAW IT FROM A DISTANCE.

I WAS WATCHING."

AND HE SAID, "NO, YOU GOTTA BE IN IT.

LIKE, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE."

McCray: AS THE TIME JUST, YOU KNOW, WENT ON, AND MY FATHER WASNT DOING NOTHING.

SO, I WAS JUST LIKE, "I, WHATEVER, YEAH.

I HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT," JUST TO GET OUT OF THERE.

[Reading] THEN WE SAW THIS LADY JOGGER.

SHE HAD ON GRAY SHORTS WITH BLACK BIKING PANTS AND A WHITE TANK TOP.

[Reading] I OBSERVED THE MALE, BLACK KEVIN, WITH SCRATCH ON FACE WAS STRUGGLING WITH A FEMALE.

McCray, reading: THE TALL, THIN BLACK GUY HIT HER IN THE RIBS WITH A PIPE.

[Reading] I MOVED BACK AND EVERYBODY STARTED FEELING ON HER.

[Reading] ANTRON CAME AND STARTED RIPPING HER CLOTHES OFF.

McCray, reading: THE PUERTO RICAN KID WITH THE BLACK HOODIE JUMPED ON HER.

[Reading] I TRIED TO GRAB HER.

I GOT SCRATCHED ON MY FACE.

[Reading] ANTRON PULLED HER PANTS OFF AND SHE WAS SCREAMING.

Richardson, reading: ANTRON HAD SEX WITH HER.

McCray, reading: THEN KEVIN GOT ON.

Richardson, reading: THATS WHEN SHE WAS YELLING, "STOP" AND "HELP."

I WAS THE ONE THAT DIDNT RAPE HER.

[Reading] KEVIN PULLED DOWN HIS PANTS AND HAD SEX WITH HER.

WHEN SHE WAS ON THE FLOOR I GRABBED HER ... A 4, A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY DOESNT TALK LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW?

AT THAT TIME, BEING NAIVE, I FIGURED IM NOT IMPLICATING MYSELF.

I WAS CRYING AT THAT TIME.

HE SAID, "DONT WORRY.

YOU DID GOOD.

EVERYTHINGS GONNA BE OK." McCray: WHEN I FIRST WENT THERE, THEY SAID I WAS GOING TO BE A WITNESS, AND THEN JUST, EVERYTHING JUST FLIPPED.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD ME RAPING A WOMAN, BEATING HER.

AND THEY READ THE STATEMENT TO MY MOTHER.

AND SHE LOOKED AT ME, AND I WAS LIKE, "MA, I DIDNT DO IT."

SHE WAS LIKE, "OK, I KNOW YOU DIDNT DO IT."

Black: I WALKED IN THE ROOM AND I COULD SEE THAT HE WAS TERRIFIED.

I COULD SEE HIM, LIKE, SHIVERING.

I SAID, "KEVIN, I CANT BELIEVE YOU SAW THIS WOMAN GET RAPED."

AND HE LOOKED AT ME.

HE SAY, "ANGIE, I DIDNT SEE A RAPE."

AND I SAID, "KEVIN, WHY DID YOU SAY THAT THEN?"

HE SAID, "CAUSE THEY TOLD ME TO SAY IT SO I COULD GO HOME."

BUT THEY WAS LIKE A ORCHESTRA, LIKE THEY ORCHESTRATED THIS WHOLE THING.

AND I FELT SO DUMB FOR NOT REALIZING IT TILL IT WAS TOO LATE.

WHEN I CAME BACK, THEY DISAPPEARED WITH MY SON.

HE WASNT THERE NO MORE.

I SAID, "WHERES MY SON?"

HE SAID, "THEY TOOK HIM TO ANOTHER POLICE STATION."

MY FATHER DID MAKE A RETURN.

UM...BUT WHEN HE CAME IT WAS TOO LATE.

AND WAITED LIKE 4 OR 5 HOURS.

AND THEN HE CAME IN, HANDCUFFED AND A LOT OF POLICEMEN WITH, WITH HIM.

MY DADS SITTIN THERE, SO I GO THROUGH THE SAME STORY BUT NOW I ADD THE WOMAN IN IT.

NOW, MY DAD, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE HEARS THIS, SO HE LOOKS AT ME AND HE GOES, "WHAT?

THAT HAPPENED?"

AND NOW I GET QUIET BECAUSE NOW HERES MY DAD, I CANT LIE TO HIM.

AND I--IM LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY, "DAD, DONT SAY NOTHIN, ITS TOOKEN CARE OF."

Dwyer: IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WERE PROBABLY 6 MURDERS A DAY.

IN THE NEWSROOMS, PEOPLE DIDNT ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO WHATEVER GRISLY EVENT OF THE DAY HAD HAPPENED.

THIS ONE WAS DIFFERENT.

Man: CHANNEL 11... LAST NIGHT, A WOMAN JOGGER WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS AND PARTIALLY CLOTHED IN CENTRAL PARK ABOUT 200 FEET NORTH OF THE 102nd STREET CROSS DRIVE.

WHAT WE, WE BELIEVE HAPPENED IS THE FOLLOWING: THE VICTIM WAS JOGGING ACROSS THE 102nd STREET CROSS DRIVE WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED BY A DOZEN YOUNG MALES.

SHE WAS DRAGGED DOWN IN THE BUSHES NEAR WHAT IS CALLED "THE LOCH," WHERE SHE WAS BEATEN AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

5 YOUTHS WERE ARRESTED AT 96th STREET AND THE WEST BRIDLE PATH.

WE BELIEVE THESE YOUTHS AND OTHERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO OR 3 OTHER INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THE PARK LAST NIGHT, ASSAULTS ON, ON JOGGERS AND PEDESTRIANS.

AND WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR OTHERS WE BELIEVE TO BE INVOLVED.

Salaam: WHEN I CAME HOME, I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF, "MAN, THERES A WHOLE BUNCH OF UNMARKED POLICE CARS OUT HERE.

I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED?"

I BUMPS INTO KOREY AT SOME POINT AND KOREY SAYS, UM, HE HEARD THAT THEY WERE-- ARE LOOKING FOR US.

Wise: SO, HIM AND I WENT UPSTAIRS.

HE HAD THE DETECTIVES AT HIS DOOR.

AND THEY SAID, "OH, THIS IS ONE OF THE GUYS WE WERE LOOKING FOR."

CHECKED MY NAME OFF.

AND THEY ASKED KOREY WHO HE WAS.

HE LOOKED AT THE LIST.

SAID, "NO, YOUR NAME AINT ON HERE."

SO THEY SAID, "AH, YOU CAN COME DOWN, "COME DOWNTOWN WITH YOUR BUDDY.

YOULL BE RIGHT BACK."

Salaam: WE WENT TO THE PRECINCT AND I CAME HOME 7 YEARS LATER.

HE CAME HOME 13 YEARS LATER.

Wise: THEY SAID, AH, "SOMETHING HAPPENED OUT IN THE PARK.

YOU WAS OUT IN THE PARK THAT NIGHT, RIGHT?"

I SAY, "I WAS IN THE PARK BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE TALKIN ABOUT."

"KEVIN IS SAYING THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW.

ANTRON IS SAYING THIS HAPPENED."

AND THEY WERE STOPPING ME DURING MY RETELLING OF THE EVENTS AND SAYING, "IS THIS WHERE YOU GOT THE WOMAN?

IS THAT WHERE?"

THE TONE WAS VERY, VERY SCARY.

I FELT LIKE THESE GUYS ARE REALLY ANGRY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY MIGHT TAKE US TO THE BACK OF THE PRECINCT AND KILL US.

A LOT OF TIME HAD GONE BY.

I DIDNT EVEN KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS.

Wise: DETECTIVE HARTIGAN SAYS, "KOREY?

"YOU LOOK LIKE YOU REAL TIRED, MAN.

"VERY TIRED, EXHAUSTED, AND YOU WANT TO GO HOME.

"BUT YOURE NOT GONNA GO HOME UNTIL YOU GIVE UP, TILL YOU SAY A STORY."

THEY HAD MADE UP A STORY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE, AH, "WELL, WE HAVE YOUR PRINTS ON HER PANTS."

IM THINKING, "HOW DID THEY TAKE MY PRINTS AND PUT IT ON HER PANTS?"

Wise: DETECTIVE NUGENT, A YOUNG OFFICER WITH A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY, CAME IN.

HE PUT HIS FACE TO MY FACE.

PUT HIS HAND IN MY FACE.

GRABBED MY FACE, SHOOK MY FACE.

"I WANT A STORY FROM YOU."

I JUST GAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT JUST TO SATISFY THEM.

JUST TO GET THEM OUT OF MY FACE WITH IT AND TRYING TO BE ON MY WAY OUT THEIR BUILDIN.

AND AFTERWARDS, HE HAD ME SIGN ON IT.

SO, I SIGNED ON IT.

YEAH.

THESE BOYS WERE IN CUSTODY AND UNDER VARYING DEGREES OF INTERROGATION FOR A RANGE OF 14 TO 30 HOURS.

AND WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED, WHEN YOU ARE TIRED, WHEN YOU ARE A JUVENILE AND NOT FULLY MATURE AND DEVELOPED, YOURE THINKING, "RIGHT NOW I JUST WANT THIS TO STOP."

Woman: MY NAME IS ELIZABETH LEDERER.

IM AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN NEW YORK COUNTY.

ID LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT A SERIES OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN CENTRAL PARK ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 19 OF 1989.

BEFORE I DO THAT, ID LIKE TO, AH, ADVISE YOU OF YOUR RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO STATEMENTS YOU MAY MAKE NOW, OK?

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND TO REFUSE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

YES, I DO.

ANYTHING THAT YOU SAY CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU IN COURT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

YES, I DO.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT A LAWYER NOW BEFORE ANY QUESTIONING AND HAVE A LAWYER PRESENT DURING ANY QUESTIONING.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

COULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER OUT LOUD?

YES.

IF YOU HAVE NO LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD A LAWYER, A LAWYER WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU NOW FREE OF CHARGE BEFORE ANY QUESTIONING.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

THANK YOU.

YES.

NOW THAT I HAVE ADVISED YOU OF YOUR RIGHTS, ARE YOU WILLING TO TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN CENTRAL PARK ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 19 OF 1989?

YES.

OK.

PRESENT IN THIS ROOM IS DETECTIVE NUGENT, WHOM YOU HAVE ALREADY MET, I BELIEVE...

Wise: DETECTIVE NUGENT TOLD ME TO, "GO IN HERE.

"YOURE GONNA GIVE THIS STORY WHICH YOU, WHICH YOU HAS, "WHICH YOU HAVE SAID TO ME AND THE REST OF MY COWORKERS, "YOU WILL GO IN HERE AND GIVE THE STORY.

"IM GONNA BE IN THE ROOM.

AND IM GONNA MAKE SURE, MAKE SURE YOU DO IT."

Lederer: THIS IS DETECTIVE McCABE AND DETECTIVE HILDEBRANT.

AH, I THINK YOUVE ALREADY MET THEM.

ALSO PRESENT ARE, I BELIEVE, YOUR PARENTS.

UM, COULD YOU EACH PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME?

MY NAME IS LINDA McCRAY.

BOBBY McCRAY.

AND, MAAM, WHAT IS YOUR RELATION?

IM HIS MOTHER.

AND-- HIS FATHER.

OK.

I WANT TO WARN YOU OF YOUR RIGHTS WITH, AH, RESPECT TO ANYTHING YOU SAY IN THIS CASE... Man: WHY WOULD A PARENT NOT SAY AT THAT MOMENT, WE WANT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY?

THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF THE SETTING AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEYRE BEING TREATED BY THE POLICE AND BECAUSE OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE SITUATION.

IT DOESNT EVEN REGISTER IN THEIR MINDS.

Lederer: I JUST WANT TO STATE IT IS NOW 20 MINUTES TO 5:00 IN THE MORNING ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 21 OF 1989.

THERE IS ANOTHER GENTLEMAN HERE IN THE ROOM.

WHO IS THAT MAN?

MY FATHER.

AND, SIR, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

PAUL L. RICHARDSON... Richardson: MY FATHER, HE WAS A QUIET, STERN MAN, SO...

I FELT ASHAMED THAT I WAS EVEN THERE DOING THAT.

AND I SHOULDNT FEEL THAT WAY BECAUSE I WAS INNOCENT.

Lederer: ...ALSO PRESENT IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW ARE DETECTIVE ARROYO AND DETECTIVE SHEEHAN... Santana, Jr.: I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A WITNESS, HELP OUT, OR JUST GIVE EM THE STORY AND THAT WAS IT.

Lederer: SIR, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME?

MY NAME IS RAYMOND SANTANA.

Santana, Jr.: I DIDNT THINK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES.

I DIDNT THINK ABOUT ANYTHING.

THE ONLY THING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS HE WAS GONNA MAKE SURE I GO HOME.

THAT WAS IT.

Lederer: IM GONNA ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS... Richardson: HERE I AM DOING A VIDEOTAPE AND IM ALREADY DEEP IN THIS SO IM THINKING NOW I GOTTA SELL IT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT I WASNT INVOLVED.

Lederer: WERE YOU TRYING TO TOUCH HER?

NOT REALLY.

DIDNT YOU TELL THE POLICE EARLIER TODAY THAT YOU HAD TRIED TO GRAB HER AND THATS WHEN YOU GOT SCRATCHED?

NO, NOT LIKE, LIKE FEELING HER, FEELING HER UP.

OK. NOT LIKE THAT?

TRYING TO STOP IT.

BUT YOU TRIED, YOU... TO GRAB, LIKE, GRAB THE ARMS OR SOMETHING.

YOU TRIED TO GRAB HER ARMS?

I WAS TRYING TO STOP IT.

DID YOU SEE ANTRON HAVE INTERCOURSE WITH HER?

YES.

WAS HE LAYING ON TOP OF HER, OR WAS HE KNEELING, OR WAS HE?

LAYING ON TOP OF HER.

OK. AND HOW LONG WAS HE ON TOP OF HER?

FOR A SHORT WHILE, THEN RAYMOND, THEN RAYMOND WENT.

WE WAS HEADED TO THE WEST SIDE.

THATS WHEN I SEEN KEVIN.

THATS WHERE YOU SAW KEVIN?

WAS ANYBODY WITH KEVIN?

YEAH, A LADY.

WHO WAS WITH KEVIN?

SOME LADY.

A LADY?

MM-HMM.

HOW WAS SHE DRESSED?

I COULDNT TELL.

IT WAS TOO DARK.

WHAT WAS HE DOING WITH HER?

STRUGGLING WITH HER.

WHAT WERE THE OTHERS DOING WHILE KEVIN WAS STRUGGLING WITH HER, WITH THE WRISTS?

ANTRON WAS GOING FOR HER CLOTHES AND LOPEZ WAS HOLDING HER ARMS.

WHAT WAS KEVIN DOING WHILE, UM, STEVE LOPEZ WAS HOLDING HER HANDS AND HITTING HER WITH THE BRICK?

HE WAS HAVING SEX WITH HER.

WHERE WERE YOU STANDING?

I WAS ON THE SIDE OF KEVIN.

WERE YOU WATCHING?

NO, I WAS GRABBING THE LADYS ... WHO ELSE HAD SEX WITH HER BESIDES KEVIN RICHARDSON?

I DIDNT SEE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAD SEX, JUST HIM.

DID SOMEBODY HAVE SEX WITH HER?

YEAH.

DID A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SEX WITH HER?

YEAH.

FIRST IT WAS THE BLACK GUY, THEN IT WAS THE PUERTO RICAN GUY WITH THE BLACK HOOD?

THEN YOU GOT ON TOP OF HER?

Lederer: WHATS IN THAT PICTURE?

Wise: ITS HER.

IS THAT THE WOMAN THAT YOU SAW?

YES.

IS THAT SORT OF THE WAY SHE LOOKED WHEN YOU SAW HER?

YES, YES, MAAM.

DID YOU SEE ANYBODY HIT HER WITH THE, WITH ANYTHING BUT THEIR HANDS?

I SEEN... AND IM TELLING YOU, KOREY-- I DONT WANT YOU TO THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU SAW THAT EXPLAINS HOW SHE GOT SO BADLY HURT.

I DID SEE KEVIN PICK UP A, A HAND ROCK, A SMALL HAND ROCK, AND HIT HER ACROSS THE FACE WITH IT.

HOW BIG WAS THE ROCK?

IT WAS A HAND, ABOUT THAT BIG, LIKE, IT WAS NICE, IT WAS BIG, IT WAS A GOOD-SHAPED ROCK.

HIT HER ACROSS LIKE THAT.

ARE YOU JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE I-- NO.

UH, UH, NO.

I AM ASKING YOU.

WHY DIDNT YOU SAY IT BEFORE?

HUH?

WHY DIDNT YOU SAY IT BEFORE?

BECAUSE I REMEMBER I WAS, ME TAKING A QUICK GLANCE IN THE DARK.

I REMEMBER HIM PICKING UP A ROCK FROM OUT THE, OUT THE DIRT.

Woman: WHY DID YOU TELL THEM SOMETHING THAT WASNT TRUE, THAT YOU HADNT SEEN?

I GUESS...I WOULD STRONGLY GUESS JUST TO SAVE MY OWN LIFE.

TO GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUTTA THERE AS QUICKLY AS I, I CAN AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I BEEN THERE TOO LONG AS IT WAS.

AND, YOU KNOW, BEIN A KID I NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT IN MY LIFE.

HOW OLD WERE YOU?

16.

16 AND I FELT LIKE I WAS ABOUT 12.

Lederer: DID YOU TELL US THE TRUTH VOLUNTARILY?

YES, MAAM.

BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO?

YES, MAAM.

DID ANYONE FORCE YOU?

NO, MAAM.

DID ANYONE THREATEN YOU?

NO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS NOW 20 MINUTES TO 4: 00 AND THE INTERVIEW IS CONCLUDED.

Detective: HEY.

SIT DOWN... GOT TO GET YOU TO SIGN SOMETHING, EH?

HUH?

Santana, Jr.: THEY PUT US IN THE CELL WITH THE REST OF THE GUYS.

NOW THERES ALL THESE GUYS THAT I DONT EVEN KNOW, YOU KNOW.

WHO ARE YOU, YOU KNOW?

AND, UM... AND EVERYBODYS ASKING EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW, "WELL, WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

AND EVERYBODYS BASICALLY SAYING, "WELL, I TOLD EM I WAS WITH MY BOY.

AND WE LEFT.

I DIDNT SEE NOTHING."

NOBODYS SAYING WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SAID.

EVERYBODY HAD THAT SENSE OF DONT LET IT OUT THE BAG BECAUSE IF I LET IT OUT THEN IM NOT GONNA GO HOME.

Woman: IN NEW YORK CITY THIS MORNING, A JOGGER IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AFTER A BRUTAL ATTACK IN CENTRAL PARK.

Woman: VICIOUSLY BATTERED AND UNCONSCIOUS, WEARING ONLY A JOGGING BRA, HER HANDS TIED OVER HER MOUTH.

Woman: THE SUSPECTS ARE 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS WHO BLAZED A NIGHTTIME TRAIL OF TERROR.

Man: ASSAULTING AN ELDERLY MAN, ATTACKING A MALE RUNNER, HITTING ANOTHER PERSON WITH A LEAD PIPE.

AT ONE TIME, THE GROUP WAS RUNNING IN A PACK OF MORE THAN 25 YOUTHS.

Woman: THE VICTIM IS NOW IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL.

TWO SKULL FRACTURES, A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BLOOD, AND ADVANCED HYPOTHERMIA.

Woman: IF SHE LIVES, ITS LIKELY SHELL SUFFER FROM BRAIN DAMAGE.

Man: 8 SUSPECTS WERE ARRAIGNED THIS WEEKEND, AGED 14 TO 17.

Jennings: SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN TOLD POLICE THEY WERE JUST OUT WILDING.

Woman: WILDING IS A WORD YOU WONT FIND IN WEBSTERS.

WILDING.

NEW YORK CITY POLICE SAY THATS NEW TEENAGE SLANG FOR RAMPAGING IN WOLFPACKS, ATTACKING PEOPLE JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE SAYS THE TEENAGERS HAVE CONFESSED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SOME OF THOSE CONFESSIONS ARE ON VIDEOTAPE.

Koch: A WOMAN JOGGING AND CENTRAL PARK.

CENTRAL PARK WAS HOLY.

IF IT HAD HAPPENED ANY PLACE ELSE OTHER THAN CENTRAL PARK, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS TERRIBLE.

IT WAS FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST ME, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY.

Colangelo: TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE ARRESTS OF 4 MALES, ALL BETWEEN 14 AND 15 YEARS OF AGE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE APRIL 19 ATTEMPTED MURDER, RAPE, AND ASSAULT OF A FEMALE IN CENTRAL PARK.

"THEY GOT EM!"

THAT WAS THE, UH, FEELINGS.

"THANK GOD, UH, FOR BEN WARD AND THE NYPD.

THEY GOT EM!"

Kassin: SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF NEW YORK CITY AND A CRIME THAT JUST ABOUT HAS EVERYBODY FLIPPING OUT, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PRESSURE THAT NYPD WAS UNDER TO HAVE THIS CRIME SOLVED AND SOLVED QUICKLY.

Dwyer: JACK MAPLE, ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THE 1990s NEW YORK CITY POLICE REVOLUTION, ONCE TOLD ME THAT HE REMEMBERED SEEING DETECTIVES INVOLVED IN THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER CASE IN ELAINES WITHIN A DAY OR SO OF THE CRIME, CELEBRATING THE ARRESTS.

THERE WAS A SENSE THAT THIS HAD BEEN A HOME RUN FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT.

[CAMERAS SHUTTERS CLICKING] WHEN THEY CHAINED US UP TO GO TO ANOTHER PRECINCT, PICTURES SNAPPING.

ME AND YUSEF DID THE WALK TOGETHER AND WE JUST KEPT OUR HEAD DOWN.

WHEN WE SAW THE LIGHTS WE, WE STILL DIDNT KNOW.

WE STILL DIDNT UNDERSTAND.

Richardson: IM WALKING AND IM SCARED BUT I HAD MY HEAD UP HIGH.

AND ALL I THINK TO MYSELF, "OK, THE TRUTH IS GOING TO COME OUT."

Dwyer: AFTER THEY GOT OUT OF THE INTERROGATION ROOM, THEY BACKED OFF.

EACH ONE OF THEM DENIED HAVING DONE IT.

CONSISTENTLY, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THEY SAID, "NO, WE DIDNT DO IT."

Man: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE APRIL 19 RAMPAGE THROUGH CENTRAL PARK, MANHATTAN D.A.

ROBERT MORGENTHAU SPOKE OUT PUBLICLY ON THE ATTACKS TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE INDICTMENTS INVOLVING 6 OF THE 8 SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH THE MOST SERIOUS CRIMES.

Morgenthau: EACH IS CHARGED IN THIS ATTACK WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE, SODOMY IN THE FIRST DEGREE, SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE FIRST DEGREE, TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE, AND RIOT IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

Hancock: THERES NO WAY THAT I AS A WOMAN COULD NOT FEEL HORRIBLE FOR HER AND FEEL SCARED FOR MYSELF AND EVERY OTHER WOMAN WALKING THE STREET.

AND I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT HOPING THAT SHE WOULD GET BETTER BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SHE WOULD RECOVER CONSCIOUSNESS.

Byfield: FOR ME, THE ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT JUST GOT ME WAS HER FRIENDS COMING IN TO IDENTIFY HER AND HER BEING JUST BEATEN BEYOND RECOGNITION.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT HER FRIENDS COULD IDENTIFY HER WAS BY A RING THAT SHE WORE.

Man: THE 28-YEAR-OLD VICTIM LIES IN A COMA.

A TEACHER CALLED HER "GOLDEN GIRL," AN INVESTMENT BANKER WITH A BLUE-CHIP BACKGROUND WHOSE SAVAGE BEATING AND GANG RAPE HAS PROVOKED OUTRAGE IN A CITY FAMOUS FOR INDIFFERENCE.

SUSPECTS IN THE CRIME WERE ARRAIGNED THIS WEEKEND, AGED 14 TO 17.

Lederer: RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE; SODOMY IN THE FIRST DEGREE; SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE FIRST DEGREE... WE WAS AT ARRAIGNMENT AND, UM, I REMEMBER THEM READING CHARGES OFF-- ROBBERY IN THE FIRST, ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE FIRST, RAPE IN THE FIRST.

AND THE LAWYER WAS LIKE, "DONT SAY ANYTHING.

JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN."

Lederer: ...THAT HE HAD HER BY THE LEGS, AND THAT HE RAPED HER AFTER DEFENDANT SANTANA DID.

BUT IT WASNT UNTIL YOU GOT INTO THAT JAIL AND, AND YOU FELT THE IMPACT.

McCray: SPOFFORD JUVENILE DETENTION.

YOU HAD KIDS THAT COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES.

MURDER, RAPE.

Santana, Jr.: THIS COUNSELOR CAME DOWN, HE SAT THERE WITH US.

AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW SERIOUS YALL CASE IS?"

AND WE WAS LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

AND HE SAID, "YOU ALL, YALL OVER THE PAPER.

"YALL IN EVERY NEWS STATION.

EVERYBODYS TALKIN ABOUT YALL."

HE SAID, "ITS SO SERIOUS THE WHOLE JAIL WANT TO GET YOU."

Salaam: BECAUSE HE WAS 16, THEY SENT KOREY TO RIKERS ISLAND.

RIKERS ISLAND WOULD MAKE SPOFFORD... LOOK LIKE A COUNTRY CLUB, SPECIALLY WHEN YOURE IN THERE FOR A RAPE CHARGE.

TO BE A CHILD, TO BE 16 YEARS OLD AND TO BE IN AN ADULT FACILITY, I CANT IMAGINE THAT.

RIKERS ISLAND AT THE AGE OF 16.

BEIN FORCED TO GROW UP VERY FAST.

Byfield: IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE NARRATIVE THAT CAME OUT WAS THAT THESE YOUNG MEN WERE GUILTY.

AND IT WAS ALMOST UNQUESTIONED.

Koch: WHEN PARENTS OR GRANDMOTHERS, AHH, OF SOME OF THESE, AH, ALLEGED PERPETRATORS-- WE ALWAYS HAVE TO SAY ALLEGED BECAUSE THATS THE REQUIREMENT.

WHEN THOSE GRANDMOTHERS SAY, "BUT HES A GOOD BOY.

HE NEVER DID ANYTHING."

DONT YOU BELIEVE IT!

Black: THERE WAS SO MUCH HATE.

WE COULDNT WATCH TV.

THERES SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PARENTING AND THE FAMILIES AND THE HOME LIFE OF OUR CITY.

ITS AN OUTRAGE.

ITS, ITS...

THE VIOLENCE IN THIS CITY, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS CITY, IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

THIS IS THE, THE, MM, THE ULTIMATE SHRIEK OF ALARM.

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE SIREN THAT SAYS NONE OF US IS SAFE.

THE STORY HAS ENRAGED MANY NEW YORKERS, STARTLED OTHERS, AND STARTED RENEWED TALK OF AN UNDER-POLICED CITY WITH CRIME OUT OF CONTROL.

MAYOR KOCH SAID, "THIS WILL BE A TEST OF THE SYSTEM."

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HOW THE, AH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS, OR IF IT WORKS.

Woman: THE BRUTAL ATTACK ON THE YOUNG INVESTMENT BANKER IS FUELING A NEW BATTLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY, EVEN THOUGH AS THE PROPOSED LAW NOW STANDS, IT WOULD ONLY APPLY TO THOSE 18 OR OLDER.

Woman: IM FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

IF SOMEONE WERE TO HURT MY FAMILY OR A LOVED ONE AS THEY DID THIS WOMAN, I WOULD PROBABLY WANT THEM DEAD.

YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT I HATE THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THIS GIRL AND RAPED HER BRUTALLY.

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

Woman: TRUMP PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS BY TAKING OUT THIS FULL-PAGE AD IN 4 NEW YORK CITY NEWSPAPERS.

"BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY."

Byfield: THEY WERE CHILDREN.

THEY WERE CHILDREN.

BRINGING UP THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CASE IN WHICH YOU WERE DISCUSSING CHILDREN WAS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME.

I THINK THAT IF SHE HAD BEEN A WA--YOUNG WOMAN WHO, AH, WHO HAD BEEN FOUND IN AN ALLEY IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT; IF SHE HAD BEEN FOUND, AH, IN HARLEM; AH, IF SHE HAD BEEN FOUND IN ANY OF THE, ANY OF THE, AH, AH, DARKER ENCLAVES IN THIS CITY OR IN THIS STATE, DONALD TRUMP WOULDNT HAVE SPOKEN, HE, HE WOULDNT HAVE EVEN WHISPERED A WORD.

INTERRACIAL RAPES ARE COVERED DIFFERENTLY.

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER MAJOR RAPE IN THE CITY AT THE TIME.

AND THIS IS THE WOMAN WHO WAS RAPED IN BROOKLYN AND THROWN OFF A ROOFTOP.

THAT GOT LITTLE TO NO COVERAGE BECAUSE THE ASSAILANTS AND THE VICTIM WERE IN THE SAME RACIAL GROUP.

IF THERES A WHITE WOMAN AND THE ACCUSATION IS THAT SHES BEEN DONE-IN BY BLACKS, THAT BY ITSELF TAKES YOU BACK TO EMMETT TILL, WHO DID NOTHING BUT WHISTLE AT A WOMAN AND ENDED UP IN A SHALLOW MISSISSIPPI GRAVE.

IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN 1901, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN LYNCHED, PERHAPS CASTRATED, AND THEIR BODIES BURNED AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF IT.

BUT THIS WAS NEW YORK CITY, 1989.

IT WAS NOT JIM CROW SOUTH.

AND YET THE SAME WORDS ARE BEING USED WITH THE SAME DAMAGING RESULTS.

Butts: THEY SEIZED ON THE FEARS OF THE PEOPLE.

WILDING.

THE BESTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BLACK MAN, THESE YOUNG HOODLUMS, THESE THUGS.

Wilder: ONCE WE WERE ON THE PATH TO IDENTIFYING THESE YOUNG MEN AS THE CULPRITS, ITS HARD TO GET OFF THAT PATH.

AND RACE, POWER, AND POLITICS MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

IT REQUIRES EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY WENT ALONG WITH THE CONFESSIONS.

MANY OF US WERE FRIGHTENED BY OUR OWN CHILDREN.

MANY OF US HAD BEEN PUSHED AROUND, RAPED, BURGLARIZED, POCKETBOOKS SNATCHED, HARASSED ON THE SUBWAY OFTEN BY YOUNG BLACK MEN.

PEOPLE JUST SAID, "OH, HOW TERRIBLE.

HOW TERRIBLE."

AND EVERYONE TURNED AGAINST THEM EXCEPT A FEW.

Woman: THE GOOD NEWS IS, SHE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE NEUROLOGICALLY FROM HER ATTACK.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE CALLED HER FATHER "DAD."

SHE DID SIMPLE ARITHMETIC.

HER BRAIN IS WORKING, STILL ABNORMALLY--SHE THOUGHT THE YEAR WAS 1952--BUT HER BRAIN IS WORKING.

SHE IS GETTING BETTER, AND SO FAR SHE LOOKS GOOD.

Woman: THE MEDICAL CASE OF THE 28-YEAR-OLD JOGGER CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.

SHE IS UNDERGOING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY AT A CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL.

Man: THE YOUNG WOMAN ATTACKED HAS APPARENTLY MADE A REMARKABLE RECOVERY, ALTHOUGH SHE REPORTEDLY CANNOT RECALL ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE ATTACK.

McCray: WHEN I WAS BAILED OUT, I THOUGHT THE CASE WAS OVER.

I THOUGHT THE TRUTH CAME OUT.

I DIDNT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BAIL UNTIL I GOT HOME.

MY MOTHER EXPLAINED TO ME, "NO, ITS BAIL.

WE PAID FOR YOU TO GET OUT.

WE STILL GOT TO GO ON WITH THIS."

[SIREN] Hancock: THE POLICE CONTROLLED THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEY CREATED THE STORY AND THE THEORY, AND ALL THE PIECES FELL INTO PLACE.

THE AUTHORITIES RELEASE A CHRONOLOGY TO THE PRESS OF WHAT THIS WILDING WAS ALL ABOUT.

Man: TOGETHER AT ABOUT 8:50 P.M., THEY ENTERED... Dwyer: THE NEWSPAPERS LOVE CHRONOLOGIES.

WE CALL EM TICK-TOCKS.

WE LIKE TO SAY, "HERES HOW THIS NIGHT OF TERROR UNFOLDED IN THE PARK."

Man: AT 8:55, THEY ATTACKED AN OLDER MALE.

THE TIMELINE SAYS THE KIDS DID THESE ATTACKS AT THIS PLACE WITH THE HOMELESS GUY, AT THIS PLACE WITH THE TAXI DRIVER, OVER THERE WITH THE BICYCLE RIDER, AND THEN WITH PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND THE RESERVOIR.

Man: AT 9:25... Man: THEY DID VARIOUS ACTS OF MALICE OR MISCHIEF WITH THESE FOLKS.

NOW, THOSE PEOPLE REPORTED THESE THINGS EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY OR RIGHT AFTER TO THE POLICE.

SO THERE IS A CLEAR-CUT TIMELINE.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY APPEND TO THE END OF THIS SEQUENCE OF CRIMES THE ATTACK ON THE JOGGER.

THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.

HER MOVEMENTS THAT NIGHT START TO BECOME DEFINED.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE FIND OUT WHEN SHE LEFT HER HOUSE,... WHAT ROUTE SHE NORMALLY TOOK AROUND THE PARK.

AND WITH NOT NECESSARILY ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY, BUT WITH A GOOD DEGREE OF CERTAINTY YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THAT TRISHA MEILI SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE PARK AROUND THE PLACE WHERE SHE WAS ATTACKED AT AROUND 20 AFTER 9:00.

WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT AT THAT TIME, THOSE KIDS WERE BEATING UP, HASSLING OTHER PEOPLE ON THE RESERVOIR, SOUTH OF THAT SPOT IN THE PARK.

THEY WERENT AT THAT PART OF THE PARK AT THE TIME SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

AND IF YOU WATCH THE VIDEOTAPE CONFESSIONS, IT TURNS OUT THEY ACTUALLY DONT KNOW WHERE THE CRIME TOOK PLACE; THEY DONT KNOW WHEN IT TOOK PLACE; AND THEY DONT KNOW HOW IT TOOK PLACE.

THEY JUST KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED.

Kassin: THE PROBLEM IS, ONCE YOU FORM A STRONG BELIEF THAT SOMEBODY IS GUILTY OF A CRIME, THE CONTRADICTORY DETAILS ARE JUST THAT.

THEYRE DETAILS BUT THEY DONT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE OUR BELIEF IN THEIR GUILT.

BUT WHEN THE DNA RESULTS COME BACK AND NONE OF THEIR DNA IS PRESENT, THAT SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE INVESTIGATION IN ITS TRACKS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAUSED AND MOVED IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

Warren: HARLAN LEVY WAS A DNA PROSECUTOR AT THE TIME.

AND HE RECALLS HOW ELIZABETH LEDERER SAID, "PLEASE, COME TO MY OFFICE."

AND HE COULD SENSE URGENCY IN HER VOICE.

AND SHE SAID, "LOOK, I FEEL LIKE IVE BEEN KICKED "IN THE STOMACH.

"THERES NO DNA MATCH WHATSOEVER TO ANY OF THESE BOYS."

Kassin: IT IS IMPROBABLE, GIVEN THE NATURE OF THIS CRIME AND THE SCENE, THAT THESE BOYS WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT A SINGLE TRACE OF THEMSELVES ON THE SCENE OR THE SCENE A SINGLE TRACE ON THEM.

THE IMPROBABILITY OF THAT IS STRIKING.

BUT THE DECISION WAS WE CAN STILL PROSECUTE THIS CASE.

AND THE ARGUMENT WE WILL MAKE TO THE JURY IS JUST BECAUSE WE DIDNT GET ALL OF THEM, DOESNT MEAN WE DIDNT GET SOME OF THEM.

THEY NOW CREATED A SCENARIO BY WHICH THERE IS A 6th PERPETRATOR A 6th PERPETRATOR WHO MYSTERIOUSLY DOESNT APPEAR IN ANY OF THE CONFESSIONS.

BUT EVEN IF THEY WERE CORRECT, THAT 6th PERPETRATORS ABSENCE IN THEIR CONFESSIONS MAKES THE CONFESSIONS FACTUALLY INCORRECT.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE DILEMMA.

Dwyer: THE TRAIL IN THE GRASS AT THE VERY SPOT WHERE SHE WAS TAKEN DOWN IS 18 INCHES WIDE, THAT WIDE.

YOU CANT TELL ME THAT 5 KIDS OR 10 OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVED IN THIS WILDING DRAGGED THIS WOMAN OFF THE ROAD AND LEFT AN 18-INCH-WIDE TRAIL.

THAT TRAIL WAS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS ATTACK.

AND IN THAT PICTURE THERE ARE NOT 5 KIDS, THERE ARE ONLY 2 PEOPLE: THE VICTIM AND HER ASSAILANT.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING] Reyes: I ASKED HER TO GET UNDRESSED.

WHEN SHE WAS COMING TOWARDS ME, I PICKED UP THE KNIFE.

AND I SHOVED THE KNIFE AND I CAUGHT HER HERE.

AND SHE WAS SAYING, "AH, YOU STABBED ME."

AND I DONT KNOW EVEN WHERE, I KEPT ON STABBING HER, AND I DONT KNOW WHAT PLACES I GOT HER.

I SEE HER ON THE FLOOR, SHAKING AND NERVOUS, SO I RUN OUT THE DOOR.

Dwyer: MATIAS REYES WAS A YOUNG MAN LIVING ESSENTIALLY BY HIMSELF IN HIS LATE TEENAGE YEARS.

HE WOULD STEAL WALKMANS, HE WOULD STEAL WATCHES, HE WOULD STEAL JEWELRY.

THEN HE STARTED SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMEN, ATTACKING WOMEN ALL AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

ON APRIL 17, 1989, JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE JOGGER WAS ATTACKED, HE ATTACKED A WOMAN IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CENTRAL PARK.

BUT THE WOMAN NOTICED THAT HE HAD FRESH STITCHES ON HIS CHIN, AND SHE TOLD THE POLICE ABOUT THIS.

AND A YOUNG DETECTIVE WENT TO THE HOSPITALS IN THE AREA AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A GUY NAMED MATIAS REYES WHO HAD THESE STITCHES ON HIS CHIN.

THAT WAS IGNORED.

HE WAS THE EAST SIDE RAPIST THAT WED BEEN COVERING IN THE "DAILY NEWS."

AND ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WAS WORKING ON THE JOGGER CASE AND ALSO WORKING ON ONE OF THE RAPES THAT REYES HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF, HAS THE DNA MARKERS IN BOTH FILES.

Man: DETECTIVE MIKE SHEEHAN-- HE KNEW BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING WITH LINDA FAIRSTEIN AND ELIZABETH LEDERER AND ALL THE OTHER DETECTIVES-- HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO DNA MATCH TO THESE YOUNG CENTRAL PARK FIVE.

TV Reporter: THE ONLY REAL EVIDENCE THE PROSECUTORS HAVE IS THE EVIDENCE THE DEFENDANTS GAVE THEM: HOURS OF GRAPHIC VIDEOTAPED CONFESSIONS.

Kassin: WHAT IS PARTICULARLY DISTURBING ABOUT THIS CASE AND ABOUT SO MANY OTHER CASES LIKE IT IS THAT ONCE THAT CONFESSION IS TAKEN AND ONCE THAT CONFESSION IS IN THE AIR, IT CORRUPTS EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND CONFESSIONS WILL TRUMP DNA, CONFESSIONS WILL CHANGE WITNESSES TESTIMONY, CONFESSIONS ARE IRRESISTIBLY PERSUASIVE, AND ALMOST THE EFFECTS CANT BE REVERSED.

Rather: SCREENING FOR JURORS BEGAN TODAY IN A CASE THAT SHOCKED NEW YORK AND JOLTED THE NATION.

Man: PROSECUTORS ARE EXPECTED TO CALL 50 WITNESSES, POSSIBLY INCLUDING THE VICTIM HERSELF.

Woman: THOUGH SHE HAS NO MEMORY OF THE ATTACK, PROSECUTORS EXPECT HER TO TESTIFY.

HER MERE APPEARANCE WILL PACK AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH FOR THE PROSECUTIONS CASE.

Santana Jr.: IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I KNEW WE WASNT GONNA BEAT THIS CASE.

IT WAS IN THE PAPER TOO MUCH.

TOO MANY PEOPLE WERE AGAINST US.

EVERYBODY WASHED THEIR HANDS FROM US, AND I FELT LIKE PEOPLE ACCEPTED WHATEVER HAPPENED TO US.

IT WAS LIKE, "WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THOSE KIDS, FORGET EM."

McCray: MY FATHER, AS THE TRIAL CAME, HE LEFT ME AND MY MOTHER.

DISAPPEARED.

I COULDNT UNDERSTAND.

AND I JUST, I HATED HIM AFTER THAT.

ME AND MY MOTHER STARTED GOING TO COURT BY OURSELF.

DEMONSTRATORS, YOU KNOW PEOPLE JUST SHOUTING, YOU KNOW, "RAPIST", "YOU ANIMAL."

"YOU DONT DESERVE TO BE ALIVE."

IT JUST FELT LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD HATED US.

Joseph: THE AMAZING THING TO ME IN MEETING ANTRON WAS THAT HE WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE WAY HE WAS PORTRAYED IN THE NEWS.

HE IS A TIMID, CALM, NON-AGGRESSIVE INDIVIDUAL, NOT ANYTHING AS HE WAS PORTRAYED.

[GAVEL BANGS] Woman: IN HER OPENING ARGUMENT, THE PROSECUTOR MADE IT CLEAR THEIR OWN WORDS WOULD BE THE MAIN EVIDENCE AGAINST THE FIRST THREE DEFENDANTS.

Lederer: WHERE WERE YOU STANDING?

Santana Jr.: I WAS ON THE SIDE OF KEVIN?

Lederer: WERE YOU WATCHING?

Santana Jr.: NO, I WAS GRABBING THE LADYS ... Man: IT WAS VERY HARD NOT TO BELIEVE THOSE CONFESSIONS.

Lederer: WHAT WAS ANTON DOING TO HER CLOTHES?

Santana Jr.: TRYING TO PULL THEM OFF.

IT SEEMED GENUINE.

THESE CONFESSIONS SEEMED GENUINE.

THEY DIDNT SEEM LIKE THEY WERE REHEARSED OR MADE UP OR ANYTHING.

Man: I THINK THAT RAYMOND LIED.

ITLL COME OUT THAT RAYMOND LIED.

HE WAS LYING WHEN HE WAS BEING ASKED QUESTIONS BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND I THINK THAT WILL COME OUT VERY...GRAPHICALLY IN MY CROSS EXAMINATION TOMORROW.

Woman: YUSEF SALAAM DIDNT MAKE TAPED STATEMENTS, BUT POLICE SAY HE VERBALLY ADMITTED BEATING THE FEMALE JOGGER WITH A LEAD PIPE WHILE OTHERS CLIMBED ON TOP OF HER.

Salaam: BOBBY BURNS...HE WAS A FRIEND OF MY MOMS.

HE WAS ORIGINALLY A DIVORCE LAWYER.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A NICE GUY.

BUT AT ONE POINT IN TIME I REMEMBER LOOKING OVER AT HIM AND I THOUGHT HE WAS SLEEPING.

Santana Jr.: MENTALLY, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY IT WAS DRAINING, NOT KNOWING WHATS GOING ON, SEEING THESE PEOPLE GET ON THE STAND, NOBODY ACTUALLY SAYING YOU DID IT.

Woman: ...THAT THERE IS ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.

Crowd: NO MORE SCOTTSBORO BOYS!

NO MORE SCOTTSBORO BOYS!

Woman: THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE IN ANY FORM THAT COULD SHOW ME, FOR ONE MOMENT, ANYTHING RELATED TO HIS BEING ANYTHING OTHER THAN INNOCENT.

YUSEF IS INNOCENT.

Crowd shouting: NO JUSTICE.

NO PEACE!

NO JUSTICE.

NO PEACE!

NO JUSTICE.

NO PEACE!

NO JUSTICE.

NO PEACE!

Man: THERE HAVE BEEN CHARGES OF RACISM, THAT AUTHORITIES AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED THE CASE BECAUSE THE VICTIM IS WHITE AND THE SUSPECTS BLACK AND HISPANIC.

Woman: MEANTIME, A GROUP OF PEOPLE CAME TO DEMONSTRATE FOR THE FEMALE JOGGER AND AGAINST A REGULAR CADRE OF PROTESTORS WHO HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE JOGGERS BOYFRIEND RAPED HER.

WHERE THE JOGGERS BOYFRIEND?

WHERES THE JOGGERS BOYFRIEND?

Woman: ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS, NOT ANY PARTICULAR RACE.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS A HUMAN BEING AND PEOPLE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT.

Woman: SHE WALKED WITH AN UNSTEADY GAIT, CLUTCHED THE RAILING AS SHE STEPPED INTO THE WITNESS STAND.

HER SCARS WERE EVIDENT, BUT SHE SPOKE CLEARLY IN A STRONG, SWEET VOICE.

Hancock: SHE WAS A MIRACLE NOW AT THIS POINT.

SHE COULDNT CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO THE ACTUAL CASE BECAUSE THANKFULLY SHE COULDNT REMEMBER.

BUT THE FACT OF HER BEING ON THE STAND GALVANIZED THE PUBLIC AROUND HER AND AGAINST THESE YOUNG BOYS.

McCray: I WAS LIKE JUST SITTING THERE, LIKE LOOKING, LIKE, "MAN, I REALLY HOPE THIS LADY CAN REMEMBER."

YOU KNOW, IM, LIKE, "WHY SHE CANT REMEMBER?"

ITS MESSED UP WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, BUT I DIDNT DO IT.

Woman: WITH THE PROSECUTION RESTING ITS CASE IN THE FINAL HOUR TODAY, THE DEFENSE BEGINS ITS CASE TOMORROW, STARTING WITH THE PARENTS OF ANTRON McCRAY.

Joseph: MY STRATEGY WAS OBVIOUSLY TO TRY TO CONVINCE THE JURY THAT THE STATEMENTS WERE NOT ACCURATE, WERE THE PRODUCT OF COERCION, SHOULD BE INADMISSIBLE, AND WERE NOT CREDIBLE.

BUT WHEN THEY TESTIFIED IN COURT, THE POLICE OFFICERS SAID, "ALL WE DID IS ASK HIM WHAT HAPPENED."

THAT SEEMED TO ME TO BE INCREDIBLE.

THEY ALSO DENIED THAT THEY EVER MADE ANY PROMISES WHATSOEVER.

THEY DENIED EVEN KNOWING ANTRON WAS A SUSPECT.

Gold: EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ASKED HIM TO TELL THE TRUTH NO MATTER WHAT AND TO BRING THE CLOTHES HE WAS WEARING, AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF, THAT MADE IT PERFECTLY OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS A SUSPECT, HE SAID HE DIDNT THINK OF HIM AS A SUSPECT.

THAT WAS JUST NONSENSE.

SOME OF THE DETECTIVES WERE OBVIOUSLY LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH.

Dwyer: THE LAWYERS IN THE CASE HAD ANOTHER DEFENSE, WHICH IS THEY HAD ALIBIS.

THEY WERE NOT WHERE THE JOGGER WAS WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED.

WHY?

THEY WERE BEATING UP OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT ALIBI DEFENSE WAS NOT OFFERED.

Gold: THE ONLY EVIDENCE AGAINST YUSEF WAS THE TESTIMONY OF McKENNA, THE DETECTIVE.

AND BURNS ABSOLUTELY UNDERCUT YUSEF IN THE MOST TERRIFYING WAY.

HE PUT INTO EVIDENCE THE NOTES OF McKENNA WHICH HADNT BEEN PUT INTO EVIDENCE BEFORE.

AND THAT WAS THE ONLY EVIDENCE AGAINST YUSEF.

Santana Jr.: THERE WAS ONE PART DURING TRIAL I THINK PETER RIVERA, MY LAWYER, HE WOKE UP.

AND THEY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE STATEMENTS, OF HOW THE STATEMENTS WERE COERCED BY THE POLICE.

I REMEMBER HIM READING SOMETHING, AND I HEARD HIM-- I HEARD HIM WHISPER IT.

HE DIDNT SAY IT LOUD BUT HE SAT NEXT TO ME.

HE SAID, "THEY DIDNT DO IT."

AND I HEARD HIM SAY THAT.

AND I SAID, "ALL RIGHT, WELL, MAYBE NOW HE GONNA FIGHT."

BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

Gold: NO BLOOD ON THE KIDS.

NOBODY COULD IDENTIFY THEM.

IT WAS JUST A QUESTION OF BELIEVING THE CONFESSIONS OR NOT.

AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO IMAGINE WHY ANYBODY WOULD MAKE UP SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY INCRIMINATES THEM BUT IS FULL OF DETAILS THAT SOUND LIKE THEY ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

Santana Jr.: IT GOT TO ONE POINT WHERE THEY PULLED ME, YUSEF, AND ANTRON IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.

AND THE LAWYER SAYS, "YOU KNOW, WERE GONNA LOSE THIS CASE.

WHAT WERE PLANNING TO DO IS SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU A PLEA DEAL."

Salaam: AND I REMEMBER TELLING THEM, YOU KNOW, "YOU GUYS CAN COP OUT.

"BUT IF I DID SOMETHING, I WOULD COP OUT.

"I WOULD WANT THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME FOR WHAT I DID.

BUT IF I DIDNT DO ANYTHING, YOU CAN GIVE ME THE REST OF MY LIFE IN PRISON."

YOU KNOW, I DIDNT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT BACK THEN, BUT I JUST KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WAY THAT I WOULD COP OUT FOR SOMETHING THAT I DIDNT DO.

THEY SAID, "WELL, IT HAS TO BE ALL THREE OF YOU GUYS OR ITS NOBODY."

AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

WE WAS LIKE, "WELL, GUESS ITS NOBODY."

Man: COMING OUT.

LETS ROLL.

THE CRIMES AND THE COLORS IN THIS CASE HAVE BEEN A FOCUS OF ATTENTION HERE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

IT WILL NOW BE UP TO A JURY TO DECIDE THE GUILT OR INNOCENCE OF THE DEFENDANTS.

JOHN McKENZIE, ABC NEWS, NEW YORK.

[PEOPLE SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] IT IS DAY 10 OF DELIBERATIONS AND THE JOGGER JURY APPEARS TO BE GOING BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT ON DAY ONE.

WERE THOSE DAMAGING VIDEOTAPED CONFESSIONS COERCED BY COPS, OVEREAGER TO SOLVE THE CASE?

Joseph: EACH DAY THAT THE JURY REMAINED OUT, I STARTED TO GET A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC.

PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED.

WHATS TAKING THEM SO LONG?

THEY CONFESSED TO IT!

I WAS GOING NUTS, QUITE FRANKLY.

I MEAN, EVERYONE WAS BLAMING THE FACT THAT WE WERE THERE SO LONG ON ME.

AND I HAD TO FIGHT WITH MY FELLOW JURORS TO CONSIDER THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE 3 STATEMENTS, BUT IT DIDNT MATTER TO THEM.

IF THEY CONFESSED, THEY CONFESSED AND THAT WAS THAT.

EVERYONES HURLING IMPRECATIONS AT ME AND TELLING ME WHAT A RAT I AM.

AND I JUST WENT ALONG WITH IT AT THE END BECAUSE, FRANKLY, I WAS WIPED OUT.

I FOUND SOME COCKAMAMIE EXCUSE TO VOTE GUILTY JUST TO GET OUTTA THERE.

Santana Jr.: WHEN THE VERDICT CAME OUT, THEY BRUNG US OUT.

THE COURTROOM WAS PACKED.

[GAVEL BANGS] AS THEY STARTED TO READ, EVERYTHING KINDA GOT NUMB.

McCray: I REMEMBER STANDING THERE AND JUST, THEY FOUND ME GUILTY.

THATS WHEN I WAS JUST-- THE WORLD JUST COLLAPSED.

Salaam: MY WHOLE INSIDES DROPPED.

JUST...LIKE THIS IS CRAZY.

ARE YOU--ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

LIKE, I COULDNT BELIEVE IT AT ALL.

McCray: I COULDNT HEAR NOTHING AFTER THAT.

I JUST SAT DOWN.

I LOOKED BACK AT MY MOTHER.

SHE WAS CRYING.

[SNIFFLE] YOU KNOW, THAT WAS IT.

Woman: AFTER THE JURY FOREMAN, A LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE... ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD A RADIO, AND THEN I HEARD IT.

Woman, continuing: GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY ON RAPE, ROBBERY, RIOT, AND ASSAULT... TEARS CAME OUT OF MY EYE.

AND I WAS MAD.

Woman, continuing: 16-YEAR-OLD McCRAY CLENCHED HIS JAW AND BRUSHED AWAY TEARS.

15-YEAR-OLD SANTANA LOOKED WIDE-EYED AHEAD, WHILE SALAAM STARED AT THE JURORS, THEN BACK AT THE COURTROOM.

PURE ANGUISH.

Joseph: ANTRON LEANED OVER TO ME AND SAID, "THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS."

THATS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE FROM CLIENTS IN GENERAL AND CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE FROM A YOUNG MAN, AND I TRULY APPRECIATED IT.

McCray: I JUST LOOKED AT HIM, AND I WAS LIKE, "THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME."

HE DID HIS BEST.

HE DID HIS BEST, YOU KNOW, IN MY EYES.

Santana Jr.: THEY TOOK ME OUT FIRST.

THEY ASKED FOR MY BELT, THEY ASKED FOR MY LACES.

AND THEN YUSEF AND ANTRON CAME OUT LIKE A LITTLE BIT AFTER ME.

AND THEN WE CRIED.

WE CRIED INSIDE THE BULL PEN.

WE DIDNT--IT WAS LIKE YOU DIDNT WANNA SHOW THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU DIDNT WANT THEM TO SEE DEFEAT.

SO YOU KNOW WE DID IT WHEN WE WENT IN THE BACK.

[LOUD SHRIEKING] Woman: THE DEFENDANTS FAMILIES LEFT THE COURTROOM QUICKLY IN TEARS.

THEY LEFT WITHOUT THEIR TEENAGE SONS.

[PEOPLE WHISTLING AND CHEERING] ALL RIGHT!

THANK YOU!

Man: LAW AND ORDER IN THE NATIONS LARGEST CITY SEEMED TO GET A BOOST TONIGHT AS THE FIRST THREE YOUTHS TO BE TRIED IN THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER CASE WERE FOUND GUILTY OF GANG RAPE AND BRUTAL ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Man: COME ON, LET EM OUT.

Woman: YOURE PLEASED WITH THE VERDICTS?

I AM.

HOW MUCH OF A HELP HAVE YOUR DETECTIVES BEEN TO YOU DURING THIS CASE?

Lederer: THEYVE BEEN THE BEST.

THEYRE TERRIFIC.

Woman: WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF GENETIC EVIDENCE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT THAT, THAT NONE OF THE SEMEN FROM THE DEFENDANTS MATCHED THAT THAT WAS FOUND IN THE JOGGER.

I THINK, BECAUSE THERES ANOTHER TRIAL, ITS BETTER NOT TO DISCUSS THE EVIDENCE.

Woman: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF ANOTHER TRIAL?

I THINK I COULD USE A VACATION BEFORE WE START.

Woman: ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE IT TO HER?

IM GOING TO GIVE IT TO HER.

Man: ALL RIGHT, LETS GO.

LETS GO, LETS GO.

Richardson: THEY OFFERED ME A PLEA.

AND I SAID, "I WILL NEVER PLEAD TO ANYTHING CAUSE I WAS INNOCENT.

AND THAT WE GONNA FIGHT THIS THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH."

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING] IT WAS JUST REALLY A CIRCUS.

AT THIS TIME, I WAS 16 NOW.

SO IT WAS ALREADY TWO YEARS OF GOING THROUGH THAT.

Wise: IM JUST GOIN FROM RIKERS ISLAND, BACK AND FORTH, GOIN TO THIS COURT THING LIKE ITS A JOB.

HER ONLY ARGUMENT ON ME IS MY CONFESSION TAPES.

Lederer: DID YOU HOLD HER LEGS DOWN?

Wise, on tape: I HOLD HER LEGS DOWN FOR WHAT?

5 SECONDS.

Wise: SO IM LOOKIN AT THIS LIKE..."THATS ME?

IS THAT ME?

SHE USIN ME AGAINST ME."

Man: 16-YEAR-OLD KEVIN RICHARDSON HAS BEEN QUIET THROUGH MOST OF THE TRIAL, BUT HIS MOTHER HAS NOT.

Cuffie: HE WAS SET UP, HE WAS SET UP.

Man: RICHARDSONS ATTORNEY SAYS HE WONT CLAIM HIS CLIENTS TAPED CONFESSION WAS COERCED.

INSTEAD, HELL ARGUE RICHARDSON WAS WITH THE GANG BUT NEVER TOOK PART IN ANY OF THE CRIMES.

WISES ATTORNEY SAID HELL TRY TO SHOW THE CONFESSIONS WERE COERCED.

BY PUTTING HIM UNDER CONTINUOUS PRESSURE FOR 1 HOUR AND 24 MINUTES, AFTER HE HAD BEEN INTERROGATED FOR OVER 24 HOURS, THAT AMOUNTS TO PRESSURE.

I WAS ASKED FROM MY LAWYER, COLIN MOORE, DO I WANNA TESTIFY.

AND THE D.A., SHE CAME UP THERE TEARIN ME APART.

I HAD WANTED TO GET UP AND SAY, "WOMAN YOU DONT KNOW ME!

YOU TALKIN LIKE YOU KNOW ME.

YOU DONT KNOW ME."

Black: THE REPORTERS WERE RUNNIN, AND PEOPLE WERE RUNNIN, AND WE WERE LIKE, "WHATS GOIN ON?"

AND SOMEBODY SAID, "THE VERDICT IS IN."

[GAVEL BANGS] Richardson: THE FIRST THING I HEARD WAS "GUILTY," AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS JUST LIKE FADING OUT.

Wise: THE JUDGE SAID, "HOW DO YOU FIND?"

"GUILTY: ASSAULT, RIOT, AND SEXUAL ABUSE."

SO THAT WAS THAT.

I REMEMBER BEING HANDCUFFED RIGHT ON THE SPOT, AND THATS WHEN I FELT COMPLETELY ALONE, CAUSE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I HAD MY FAMILY AT LEAST SUPPORTIN ME, YOU KNOW.

BUT AT THAT POINT ONCE THE GATES CLOSED AND I WAS IN THE CELL, AND I JUST THOUGHT MY LIFE WAS PRETTY MUCH OVER.

[SIREN] GET THE ... OUT OF MY FACE!

Man: OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, SUPPORTERS OF THE TWO TEENAGERS ERUPTED WITH VIOLENT EMOTION.

[PEOPLE SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] GET THE ... OUT!

INSIDE, 16-YEAR-OLD KEVIN RICHARDSON CRIED LOUDLY.

HIS MOTHER SCREAMED, "WE LOVE YOU", AND COLLAPSED, LATER TO BE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL.

18-YEAR-OLD KOREY WISE SHOUTED, "RACISM," AS HE WAS LED FROM COURT.

THE PROSECUTOR WAS TAKEN FROM COURT UNDER HEAVY GUARD AS AN ANGRY CROWD SWIRLED AROUND HER.

Man: YOU LYING ...!

YOU LIED!

Man: THIS WAS THE SECOND TRIAL IN THE JOGGER CASE.

LAST SUMMER, THREE TEENAGERS WERE CONVICTED OF RAPE AND ASSAULT AND ARE NOW SERVING THEIR JUVENILE TERMS.

THIS IS THE TEST MAYOR KOCH HAD LAID OUT.

HE WAS OUT OF OFFICE NOW BUT PEOPLE FELT THE SYSTEM HAD PASSED.

Richardson: I WENT TO A MAXIMUM SECURITY FOR JUVENILES.

ME AND YUSEF SALAAM, WE WOUND UP BEING IN THE SAME PLACE.

I REMEMBER SAYIN THAT WE JUST HAVE TO STAY STRONG TOGETHER AND TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER CAUSE ALL WE HAVE IS EACH OTHER RIGHT AT THIS POINT.

Santana Jr.: IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS VERY HARD BECAUSE THEY PERCEIVED ME AS THIS WAS A RAPIST AND, UH...HE COMMITTED ONE OF THE MOST HEINOUS CRIMES IN NEW YORK STATE HISTORY.

YOU COULD BE THE MOST PEACEFUL PERSON, BUT THEN YOU COME TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO DEFEND YOURSELF TO AVOID POSSIBLY BEING BEATEN, OR WORSE, EVEN, YOU KNOW, KILLED.

SO I HAD TO ADJUST TO THAT ENVIRONMENT AND BASICALLY I HAD TO GROW UP REALLY FAST.

McCray: AND ITS REAL HECTIC IN THERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DYING OVER CIGARETTES.

ITS REAL CRAZY.

[BIRDS TWEETING] Santana Jr.: WHY ME?

CURSED GOD OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

YOU KNOW, MY FAITH WAS GONE.

I LOST THAT, UM, AH... JUST MY FAITH WAS GONE AND, UM...

I DIDNT, UM... KNOW WHAT TO DO.

MY FATHER CAME ONCE IN A WHILE.

HE APOLOGIZED TO ME, BUT I DIDNT ACCEPT IT.

MY MOTHER CAME A LOT.

I MEAN, THERE WAS SOMETIMES I HAD TO TELL HER TO STAY HOME BECAUSE THE WEATHER WOULD BE SO MESSED UP.

SHED STILL COME.

Wise: WHEN I HEARD THAT MY DAD HAD PASSED, IT WAS HURTIN, UH...

IT WAS HURTING AND I WOULD THINK, SURELY THINK, HE JUST-- HE DRUNK HISSELF TO DEATH.

YOU KNOW, THROUGH-- WHAT DO THEY CALL THAT?

CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER?

BUT NO ONE SHARED IT WITH ME OR GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO COME DOWN.

SO I JUST LEARNED IT AND THAT WAS THAT.

THAT WAS THAT.

BUT AS TIME PASSED, I STARTED TO MAKE CHANGES.

I WAS ABLE TO GET MY GED.

I WAS ABLE TO GET A DEGREE, YOU KNOW.

I GOT AN ASSOCIATES.

I JUMPED ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

IT WAS A REAL GRADUATION, WITH THE DEAN AND EVERYBODY.

Salaam: I WAS ABLE TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE BEFORE THEY TOOK EDUCATION OUT OF PRISON.

McCray: THEY STOPPED THE PROGRAM, SO I DIDNT GET A DEGREE.

AFTER THAT, I JUST STARTED DOING TRADES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

LIKE I WORKED IN THE TAILOR SHOP, AND THAT WAS LIKE THE HIGHEST-PAYING JOB IN PRISON.

I THINK IT WAS, LIKE, 30 CENTS AN HOUR.

NOW, HERE I GO AGAIN, READY TO FLOW AGAIN... Woman on radio: GOOD AFTERNOON, 47 DEGREES... Man: IN NEW YORK, REPUBLICAN RUDOLPH GIULIANI DEFEATED INCUMBENT DAVID DINKINS... Man: MAYOR DINKINS HANDLING OF THE BLACK ON JEWISH CROWN HEIGHTS RIOTING HURT HIM.

GIULIANI PROMISES TOUGHER APPROACHES TO HOMELESSNESS AND CRIME... Giuliani: SQUEEGEE OPERATORS AND EXCESSIVE NOISE AND AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING... Woman: CRIME HAS PLUNGED 33% FROM THE SAME MONTH A YEAR AGO... Man: SINCE 1990, HOMICIDES HAVE FALLEN DRAMATICALLY IN NEW YORK... Brokaw: NEW YORK CITY IS NO LONGER A CRIME CAPITAL.

[HORNS HONKING] Richardson: I CAME UP TO PAROLE.

AND MY HEARING LASTED A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

I WALKED IN.

YOU KNOW, SAID WHO I WAS.

THEY LOOKED AT THE TIME THAT ID BEEN THERE AND REALIZED THAT I HAVENT GOTTEN INTO NO TROUBLE THE WHOLE TIME.

THEY JUST WANTED TO KNOW ONE THING.

THEY SAID, "DID YOU DO THE CRIME?"

I SAID, "NO."

THEY TOLD ME, "HAVE A GOOD DAY."

McCray: GOT MY STUFF, MY PERSONAL STUFF, HAD MY MONEY IN MY ACCOUNT, AND THEY TOOK ME TO THE BUS STOP.

CALLED MY MOTHER EVERY STOP WE MADE, LET HER KNOW WHERE I WAS AT.

AND IM JUST LOOKING AROUND, LIKE, WOW, FREE.

GOT HOME, FORGOT THE BUILDING I LIVED IN CAUSE ALL THE BUILDINGS LOOK ALIKE.

I WENT IN THE WRONG BUILDING.

MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER RAN DOWNSTAIRS.

THE DAY HE WAS ACTUALLY RELEASED HE SAID, "THEYRE SENDING ME HOME ON A BUS."

WERE LIKE, "NOPE.

WERE COMIN TO GET YOU."

AND OF COURSE, MY FAMILY WAS CRYING WHICH MADE ME START TO CRY.

AND EVERYBODY JUMPED UP.

YOU KNOW, WE JUMPED FOR JOY AND WE GOT IN THE CAR, AND WE SPED OFF AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.

AND WE DROVE.

IT WAS ABOUT 3 HOURS FROM THE CITY.

AND SO WE WENT STRAIGHT, LIKE, NOT EVEN STOPPIN.

BEAUTIFUL.

Santana Jr.: WHEN I WAS RELEASED... BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW.

I SAID, "WOW.

"YOU KNOW, I GOT A FRESH START.

I CAN TRY TO PICK UP, PUT MY LIFE BACK TOGETHER."

YEAH, HE CAME HOME.

AND I WAS HAPPY HES HOME AND ALL THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I BRUNG A LOT OF STUFF WITH ME, YOU KNOW, THAT I DIDNT EVEN KNOW EXISTS.

I LOVED TO STAY INSIDE MY ROOM, CAUSE MY ROOM WAS LIKE THE SIZE OF A CELL.

I WOULD GO IN THE SHOWER AND WASH IN MY BOXERS, WASH MY BOXERS IN THE SHOWER.

I HAD THIS AGGRESSION.

YOU KNOW, IF IM IN A ROOM WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE, I CAN TALK TO YOU BUT I WONT GIVE YOU EYE-TO-EYE CONTACT CAUSE IM TOO BUSY WATCHING THE ROOM.

McCray: WHEN I GOT HOME, MY FATHER, HE WAS LIVING, YOU KNOW, WITH MY MOTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE BACK TOGETHER.

BUT I DIDNT REALLY...

I DIDNT TALK TO HIM.

WE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE, BUT I DIDNT EVEN TALK TO HIM.

I NOTICED HE WAS GETTING SICK, CAUSE HE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

HE WAS REAL SICK.

I DIDNT EVEN CARE.

MY MOTHER, SHE WOULD TRY TO GET US TO TALK.

I WAS JUST LIKE, "YOU DONT REMEMBER WHAT HE DID TO US?

YOU KNOW, HE LEFT YOU."

MY MOTHER, YOU KNOW, GOT THAT CALL, AND SHE WAS LIKE, "YOUR FATHER JUST PASSED AWAY."

I WAS STILL WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT."

BUT SEEING HIM LAYING THERE, IT JUST HIT ME.

YOU KNOW, HE USED TO BE MY BEST FRIEND.

Richardson: I WAS A SEX OFFENDER, LABELED AS THAT.

AND I HAD TO REGISTER, UM, EVERY MONTH.

I APPLIED FOR THE POST OFFICE AT ONE POINT.

AND I WAS ABOUT TO GET THE JOB.

BUT IM AN HONEST PERSON AND SO THEY ASKED ME HAVE I EVER BEEN INCARCERATED?

I PUT YES.

AND THEY DIDNT HIRE ME.

McCray: I JUST WANTED TO GET OUT OF NEW YORK.

I HAD A COUSIN THAT LIVED IN MARYLAND.

I KIND OF LIKED MARYLAND.

SO I WENT OUT THERE JOB HUNTING FOR THE WHOLE DAY, AND ON THE SPOT I GOT A SANITATION JOB.

Santana Jr.: MONTHS WENT BY WHERE I DIDNT HAVE NO MONEY, AND THERES NOTHIN I COULD DO.

I CANT GET A JOB.

I WAS BECOMING A BURDEN.

YOU KNOW, HERE I AM IN MY FATHERS HOUSE, IM EATING THE FOOD, YOU KNOW, CAUSE IM A BIGGER GUY AND IM NOT CONTRIBUTIN.

I SAID, "I CANT FUNCTION."

THAT WAS MY BREAKING POINT.

AND SO I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

IM GONNA JUST, IM GONNA GET IN THE DRUG GAME."

AND I STARTED TO SELL DRUGS.

Dwyer: ALL OF THE JOGGER DEFENDANTS HAVE GONE HOME EXCEPT ONE, KOREY WISE.

HE WAS THE ELDEST OF THE GROUP CONVICTED AND HE HAD THE LONGEST SENTENCE.

AND HE HAD STOPPED GOING TO THE PAROLE BOARD--DIDNT EVEN BOTHER GOING ANYMORE TO DENY HIS GUILT.

ONE DAY IN LATE 2001, MATIAS REYES MEETS HIM AT THE AUBURN PRISON.

Warren: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD SEEN EACH OTHER SINCE 1989, WHEN BOTH OF THEM WERE AT RIKERS ISLAND.

AND AT THAT TIME, THEY HAD A LITTLE INCIDENT IN THE TV ROOM.

AND IT ALMOST, YOU KNOW ESCALATED TO BLOWS.

Wise: HE SAID, "I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU."

WE HAD A FIGHT AT RIKERS ISLAND ABOUT A TV, AND SO FORTH.

I SAID, "MATIAS, AINT ABOUT NOTHIN MAN.

HA!

"WE HERE.

ITS NOT GONNA FREE NEITHER ONE OF US.

DONT WORRY ABOUT IT."

REYES DOESNT SAY ANYTHING TO HIM, BUT HE STARTS TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE PRISON.

"HEY, I MET SOMEBODY WHOS DOING TIME FOR A CRIME THAT HE DIDNT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT I DID MYSELF."

THEY SEND UP AN INVESTIGATOR, AND HE TAKES THIS STATEMENT.

THEY SEND IT DOWN TO THE MANHATTAN D.A.s OFFICE WHICH HAS NO IDEA THAT THIS CASE FROM 13 YEARS EARLIER, WHICH HAS LONG BEEN STORED AND FORGOTTEN BY EVERYBODY EXCEPT THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, IS SUDDENLY GONNA COME BACK TO LIFE.

I SHOWED THEM THE TOP OF THE ENTRANCE, THE DIRECTION SHE CAME BY.

I SHOWED THEM WHERE I PICKED UP THE TREE BRANCH AND DOWN THE ROAD WHERE I DRAGGED HER IN.

IM THE ONE THAT DID THIS.

WHEN I SAW KOREY WISE IN AUBURN, I SAW IN HIS EYES, YOU KNOW, THE SUFFERING THAT HES BEEN GOING THROUGH, TO KNOW THAT A MAN HAS SUFFERED 13 YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN JAIL FOR SOMETHING THAT HE HAS NOT DONE, TO KNOW THAT ALL THESE KIDS GOT ARRESTED FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDNT DO.

YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING?

I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT I CAN COME FORWARD AND ADMIT THE TRUTH.

IM TO THE POINT WHERE IF PEOPLE DONT DO SOMETHING, OR IF THEY DONT DO WHATS RIGHT, THEN, HEY, THERES NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO.

TO HEAR THIS AFTER ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT I DONE BEEN THROUGH-- THE SCUFFLE, THE JUMPING ON, THE STABBIN, THE WHOLE UNNEEDED PACKAGE...

IT FELT SO GOOD.

Dwyer: MORGENTHAUS OFFICE BEGINS AN EXHAUSTIVE RE-EXAMINATION OF THE CASE.

AND THEY PULLED OUT THE OLD FILES AND THEY FOUND THE UNKNOWN SEMEN FROM THE RAPE KIT, AND THEY MATCHED REYES.

THEN THEY BEGAN TO INTERVIEW REYES.

REYES STEPS IN 13 YEARS LATER AND IMMEDIATELY GIVES OFF DETAILS THAT TURN OUT TO BE VERIFIED AND ACCURATE THAT THE POLICE DIDNT KNOW.

HE DESCRIBED HER AS HAVING BLACK RUNNING TIGHTS ON AND A WHITE T-SHIRT.

THATS WHAT MS. MEILI WAS WEARING.

HE TELLS THEM ABOUT THE WALKMAN.

TURNS OUT SHE DID RUN WITH A WALKMAN.

NOBODY KNEW IT CAUSE IT WASNT FOUND AT THE SCENE.

HE DESCRIBES HOW HE TOOK OFF HER SNEAKERS.

WHEN THE POLICE CAME ON THE SCENE AND THEY FOUND HER, HER SNEAKERS WERE--ONE SNEAKER WAS IN ONE LOCATION, ANOTHER SNEAKER WAS IN ANOTHER LOCATION.

HE TALKED ABOUT TAKING HER KEYS AND TRYING TO GET HER ADDRESS AND THEN TOSSING THE KEYS.

WELL, THAT EXPLAINED THE DILEMMA ABOUT WHERE HER KEY WAS CAUSE HER DOOR WAS LOCKED.

THESE WERE DETAILS THAT EVEN THE MOST ASSIDUOUS STUDENT OF THE CASE WOULD HAVE HAD A HARD TIME COMING UP WITH AS SOME KIND OF FAKE STORY.

THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT REYES KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND HIS DNA WAS PRESENT ON THE SCENE AND THE WAY IN WHICH HE COMMITTED THIS CRIME WAS PERFECTLY CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY HE COMMITTED OTHER CRIMES.

IT STANDS TO REASON THAT REYES WAS GIVING AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.

McCray: I WORKED THE THIRD SHIFT.

IT WAS FROM 8: 00 TO 6:30 IN THE MORNING.

I GOT HOME, GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER, ABOUT TO WATCH "SPORTSCENTER," AND MY COUSIN CALLED.

SHE WAS LIKE, "TRON, TRON, TURN ON CNN."

AND IM LIKE, "WHY?

WHATS GOING ON?"

SHE WAS LIKE, "THE TRUTH CAME OUT.

THE TRUTH CAME OUT."

"THE TRUTH CAME OUT?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"YOUR CASE!

SOMEBODY THAT DID IT, HE TOLD THE TRUTH, HE CONFESSED.

HE DID IT."

AND IM LIKE, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

AND I JUST STARTED CRYING.

Man: NEW DNA EVIDENCE CONCLUSIVELY CONNECTS REYES TO THE VICTIM.

Santana, Sr.: MY SON CALLED ME ON A SATURDAY, AND I SAID, "I WANT YOU TO SIT DOWN.

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU."

AND HE SAID, "WHAT NEWS YOU GOT FOR ME?"

"GET A CHAIR, SIT DOWN.

IM GONNA TELL YOU."

HE SAYS, "OH, YOU KNOW, THEY FOUND THE GUY THAT DID IT."

AND I SAID, "WHAT?"

AND HE SAYS, "YEAH, THEY FOUND THE GUY THAT COMMITTED YOUR CASE."

AND I SAID-- MAN, I GOTTA CURSE.

I SAID, "GET THE ... OUTTA HERE."

HE SAID, "NO, FOR REAL.

THEY FOUND THE GUY.

YOURE GONNA BE COMIN HOME SOON."

AND IM LIKE, "YEAH, OK.

WHATEVER."

HES THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE HOPE.

AND IM LIKE "YOU KNOW WHAT?

ILL TALK TO YOU LATER."

[THUNDER] IT STARTED RAINING OUTSIDE.

AND IM LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, AND IM LIKE, "DAMN.

DID THEY REALLY FIND THIS DUDE?"

AND IM THINKING ABOUT THIS.

THEN I START CRYING.

Crowd chanting: THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE!

WHY ARE WE HERE?

THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE!

WHY ARE WE HERE?

THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE!

Man: IN THE SNOW!

Dwyer: THERE WAS A MOTION BY THE DEFENSE TO OVERTURN THE CONVICTIONS ON THE GROUNDS OF NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE.

AND MORGENTHAU NOT ONLY SAID THAT THE NEW EVIDENCE LIKELY WOULD HAVE LED TO A DIFFERENT VERDICT, HE SAID TO ME AND HE SAID TO OTHERS, "IF WE KNEW THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW, WE WOULDNT HAVE INDICTED THESE GUYS."

Koch: MY FAITH IN ROBERT MORGENTHAU IS SUCH THAT I DONT QUARREL WITH HIS DECISION.

Warren: THIS IS STEP ONE.

THE RESPONSE FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HAS BEEN TO CONCEDE, OR AGREE, OR CONSENT TO OUR APPLICATION THAT THE VERDICTS BE SET ASIDE.

THE JUDGE HAS TO MAKE A FORMAL RULING IN THAT REGARD.

WE EXPECT FOR THAT RULING TO BE MADE FORTHWITH.

Dinkins: I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU A STATEMENT FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROBERT MORGENTHAUS OFFICE.

THE OFFICE SAID, "A COMPARISON OF THE STATEMENTS "REVEALS TROUBLING DISCREPANCIES.

"ACCOUNTS GIVEN BY THE FIVE DEFENDANTS DIFFERED FROM ONE "ANOTHER ON THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF VIRTUALLY EVERY "MAJOR ASPECT OF THE CRIME: WHO INITIATED THE ATTACK; WHO "KNOCKED THE VICTIM DOWN; WHO UNDRESSED HER; WHO STRUCK HER; "WHO HELD HER; WHO RAPED HER; WHAT WEAPONS WERE USED "IN THE COURSE OF THE ASSAULT; AND WHEN IN THE SEQUENCE "OF EVENTS THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE.

"AND SOME OF WHAT THEY SAID WAS SIMPLY CONTRARY TO ESTABLISHED FACT."

NOW, THIS IS A DAMNED SHAME.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING] Warren: I HAVE AN APPLICATION AT THIS TIME ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE DEFENDANTS: KOREY WISE, YUSEF SALAAM, KEVIN RICHARDSON, RAYMOND SANTANA, AND ANTRON McCRAY, ALL THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST EACH ONE OF THEM IN THEIR ENTIRETY BE DISMISSED.

MOTION IS GRANTED.

EVERYONE HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] Woman: THE JUDGE HANDLING THE REVIEW OF THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER CASE HAS JUST RULED IN THE LAST HOUR THAT THOSE CONVICTIONS AGAINST THE FIVE YOUNG MEN MUST BE SET ASIDE.

IT IS A STUNNING REVERSAL IN ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL CRIME CASES IN THE CITYS HISTORY.

THAT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS, EVER--FIRST--EXCUSE ME.

BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER, AND ME AND MY MOTHER, WE JUST HUGGED EACH OTHER IN OUR APARTMENT FOR SEEMED LIKE FOREVER.

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

STILL IS.

I WOULD ALWAYS SEE THESE PHOTOS OF MY MOTHER WALKING AROUND WITH A "YUSEF IS INNOCENT" SHIRT.

AND THEN WHEN THEY DROPPED ALL THE CHARGES, SHE HAD HER COAT OPEN AND THE "YUSEF IS INNOCENT" SHIRT ON AND THIS HUGE SMILE ON HER FACE LIKE, NOT ONLY DID I TOLD YOU SO, BUT IM SO HAPPY TODAY.

Woman: NOW 4 OF THE 5 ARE OUT-- THEY SERVED LONG PRISON TERMS, BUT RAYMOND SANTANA REMAINS BEHIND BARS ON AN UNRELATED CONVICTION.

BUT THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HES SERVING ON A DRUG CHARGE WAS BASED UPON THE FACT THAT HE WAS A PREDICATE FELON, HIS CONVICTION IN THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER CASE.

SO LAWYERS CLOSE TO THE CASE REPRESENTING THE FIVE ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY EXPECT TO CHALLENGE THAT AND TRY TO GET RAYMOND SANTANA HOME TO HIS PARENTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Santana Jr.: IT WAS CELEBRATION.

ALL THE GUYS JUMPED AROUND, LIKE, "WOW!"

THEY WERE ALL CHEERING.

"YOU GOIN HOME.

ITS OVER.

YOU GOIN HOME."

THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SAID, "WELL YOU KNOW, THERES A LOT "OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.

"YOU WANNA GO THROUGH THE BACK?

ILL GET A CAR FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO OUT THE BACK WAY."

AND I SAID, "WELL IM A FREE MAN.

IM GOIN OUT THE FRONT!

OPEN THAT DOOR AND LETS GO!"

Man: AMID A CRUSH OF CAMERAS, RAYMOND SANTANA LEFT JAIL A FREE MAN, MUCH TO HIS FATHERS JOY.

I ALWAYS BELIEVED HE WAS INNOCENT FROM THE BEGINNING.

Santana Jr.: IT TOOK ME BACK TO THAT PERP WALK THAT THEY DO.

AND THEN NOW THIS TIME, IT WAS A FREE MAN WALK.

AND IT WAS DEFINITELY GREAT TO WALK THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, AND TO HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH.

AND I SAID, "I TOLD YOU WE WERE INNOCENT."

Santana, Sr.: THIS IS A MIRACLE.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS IN THAT YARD, I WAS SAYING I NEED TO PRAY FOR HIM A LOT.

THEY SAY IF YOUR PRAYER DONT COME OUT IT DID FOR ME.

BECAUSE I PRAY A LOT FOR THAT KID, AND LOOK.

THAT WAS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE, BOY.

UH-HUH.

Wilder: I FELT ASHAMED, ACTUALLY, FOR NEW YORK AND I ALSO FELT EXTREMELY ANGRY BECAUSE THEIR INNOCENCE NEVER GOT THE ATTENTION THAT THEIR GUILT DID.

THE FUROR AROUND PROSECUTING THEM STILL DROWNS OUT THE GOOD NEWS OF THEIR INNOCENCE.

THESE WERE 5 KIDS WHO WE TORMENTED, WE FALSELY ACCUSED, WE PILLORIED IN THE PRESS, WE ATTACKED, WE INVENTED PHRASES FOR THE IMAGINED CRIMES THAT WERE ACCUSING THEM OF.

AND THEN WE PUT THEM IN JAIL.

WE FALSELY CONVICTED THEM.

AND WHEN THE EVIDENCE TURNED OUT THAT THEY WERE INNOCENT AND THEY WERE RELEASED, WE GAVE A MODEST NOD TO FAIRNESS, AND WE WALKED AWAY FROM OUR CRIME.

IT WAS A MORE INTERESTING STORY WHEN IT WAS ALL ABOUT A WHITE WOMAN THAT WAS RAPED BY 5 BLACK BOYS.

THE COVERAGE IN 2002 WAS WORSE THAN WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN 1989.

MORE RESISTANT TO FACT, MORE OBSTINATE ABOUT BEING WRONG.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONED THIS PANEL LED BY A VERY DISTINGUISHED LAWYER NAMED MIKE ARMSTRONG, TO REVIEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE JOGGER CASE.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH IT HAD LET THE RIGHT MAN GET AWAY AND APPARENTLY HAD PUT THE WRONG PEOPLE IN PRISON.

THIS WAS INSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONISM THAT WAS GOING ON.

Hancock: LINDA FAIRSTEIN MADE A HUGE NAME FOR HERSELF IN PART BECAUSE OF THIS CASE.

IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HER PROFESSION AND HER REPUTATION.

SO SHES GOT A LOT TO LOSE BY SAYING, "I GOT EVERYTHING WRONG AND I RAILROADED THESE KIDS INTO JAIL."

WHATEVER YOU DO IN LIFE, YOU MAKE MISTAKES, AND YOU EITHER FACE YOUR MISTAKES OR YOU DONT.

I DONT THINK THE PRESS FACED ITS MISTAKES.

I DONT THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FACED THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE.

BY PROSECUTING THE WRONG PEOPLE FOR THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER CASE, MATIAS REYES CONTINUED TO HURT, MAIM, AND KILL.

AND THEY COULD HAVE HAD HIM BUT THEY GOT STUCK WITH A MISTAKE.

AND THEYRE STILL INVESTED IN THAT MISTAKE.

PATRICIA MEILI... MY BROTHER, ALL THE BOYS, ALL OF OUR FAMILIES-- ALL OF US ARE VICTIMS.

NOBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE, THE TERROR THAT THEY PUT MY FAMILY THROUGH.

NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I WANT US TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND BE HORRIFIED BY OURSELVES BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A MIRROR ON OUR SOCIETY.

AND RATHER THAN TYING IT UP IN A BOW AND THINKING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM IT AND WELL BE BETTER PEOPLE, I THINK WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO REALIZE IS THAT WERE NOT VERY GOOD PEOPLE.

AND WERE OFTEN NOT.

Santana Jr.: IM ALWAYS BEHIND.

THOSE YEARS THAT IT TOOK FROM ME, I LOST A LOT.

AND EVEN NOW AT THE AGE OF 36 WHERE I SHOULD BE FULLY IN A CAREER, HAVE A HOUSE, A CAR, MAYBE MARRIED, I DONT HAVE ANY OF THAT.

AND SO I DONT KNOW HOW TO REGAIN THAT STUFF ANYMORE.

SO IM JUST HERE.

I LOST MY YOUTH.

I LOST 7 YEARS OF MY LIFE.

I LOST THAT SENSE OF BEING YOUTHFUL AND MISSING THE AVERAGE THINGS OF GOING TO SCHOOL AND GOING TO THE PROM AND JUST LIVIN LIKE AVERAGE 14-, 15-YEAR-OLD KID.

Wise: YOU CAN FORGIVE BUT YOU WONT FORGET.

YOU WONT FORGET WHAT YOU DONE LOST.

NO MONEY COULD BRING THAT TIME BACK.

NO MONEY COULD BRING THE LIFE THAT WAS MISSIN OR THE TIME THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY BRING BACK.

NOTHIN.

Salaam: IT HASNT BECOME EASIER TO LIVE AS AN ADULT.

ITS BECOME HARDER.

ITS ALWAYS MORE DIFFICULT TO DO SOMETHING IF YOU HAVE THIS HUGE GAP OF YOUR LIFE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.

AND ITS NOT LIKE JUST BECAUSE THEY SAID, "OK, WERE "VACATING THE CONVICTIONS" THAT THAT VACATED THE WHOLE PRISON TERM.

THAT WHOLE PRISON TERM HAPPENED.

IT WAS A REALITY.

WE REALLY WENT THROUGH THAT.

McCray: I STILL STRUGGLE EVERY DAY, BUT I MADE IT, YOU KNOW.

CAME HOME, DIDNT GET IN TROUBLE.

WORKED EVER SINCE I CAME HOME.

PAY TAXES, TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS.

IM DOING THE BEST I CAN, THATS ALL.

I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT.

TOLD EM.

THE TRUTH CAME OUT.

TRUTH CAME OUT.

Man, singing: I WISH I KNEW HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE I WISH I CAN BREAK ALL THE CHAINS HOLDING ME I WISH I COULD SAY ALL THE THINGS THAT I SHOULD SAY SAY EM LOUD, SAY EM CLEAR FOR THE WHOLE ROUND WORLD TO HEAR I WISH I COULD SHARE ALL THE LOVE THAT IS IN MY HEART REMOVE ALL THE BARS THAT KEEP US APART I WISH YOU COULD KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ME THEN YOUD SEE AND AGREE THAT EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FREE I WISH I COULD GIVE ALL IM LONGING TO GIVE From the director of The Civil War...

Baseball... and The National Parks... Comes a revealing portrait of three extraordinary lives.

WE WOULDN'T BE WHO WE ARE WITHOUT THEM.

A saga spanning two World Wars... and more than a hundred years.

THE DRAMA OF IT IS UNMATCHED IN OUR HISTORY.

From Ken Burns...

THE ROOSEVELTS: An Intimate History Only on PBS.

FIVE ONLINE AT PBS.ORG/CENTRALPARKFIVE AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER, USING HASHTAG CP5.

"THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE" IS AVAILABLE ON DVD AND BLU-RAY.

"THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE" BOOK BY SARAH BURNS IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG OR CALL CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

ALSO AVAILABLE ON iTUNES.

Man: LOOK DOWN AT THE SEA AND ID SING CAUSE I KNOW EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FREE YES, ID SING CAUSE I KNOW EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FREE CAUSE ID SING CAUSE I KNOW EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FREE OH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SING BECAUSE ID KNOW EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FREE YES, YOU KNOW I WOULD SING, LORD, OH OH EVERY MAN SHOULD BE FREE CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--